Compare towns
Jay vs Hampton Beach vs Canton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Hampton Beach has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Canton has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Jay | Hampton Beach | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
2,605 |
1,191Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
41.4±7.2 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.7%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jay and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19k 13% below U.S. |
$82,557±$17kHighest about the U.S. average |
$52,458±$35kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,600±$27k 49% below U.S. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$165,000±$50kLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141 46% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$485±$18Lowest 66% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$2,277 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.9%±33.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #86 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | — | — |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.