Compare towns

Jay vs Hampton 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 has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).

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.

MeasureJayHamptonCanton
People
Population
4,657
16,426Highest
1,191Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+13.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±5.1Lowest
about the U.S. average
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
41.4±7.2
6% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.5%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
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%
30.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.7%±6.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton 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%
42.8%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%
3.1%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Jay and Hampton 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.
$95,233±$9kHighest
18% above U.S.
$52,458±$35kLowest
35% below U.S.
Hampton 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.
$550,200±$39kHighest
65% above U.S.
$165,000±$50kLowest
50% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$759±$141
46% below U.S.
$1,628±$94Highest
15% above U.S.
$485±$18Lowest
66% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,245Lowest
28% below U.S.
$6,813Highest
118% above U.S.
$2,277
27% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.2%±28.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.8%±10.4
U.S.: 51.1%
88.9%±33.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Canton and Hampton 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%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
Work from home
4.8%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton 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 #31 of 120 in NH —
School district RSU 73 Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District —
High school in town Spruce Mountain High School Winnacunnet High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
10.1Lowest
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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.