Compare towns
Jay vs Hampton vs Canton vs Pittston
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.
| Measure | Jay | Hampton | Canton | Pittston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,657 |
16,426Highest |
1,191Lowest |
3,093 |
| 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% |
+7.8% 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. |
41.4±5.9 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% |
17.2%±7.4 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%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.7%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±6.1Lowest 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% |
26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pittston and Jay 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. |
$86,614±$18k 7% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Pittston 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. |
$238,700±$66k 28% 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. |
$1,080±$593 24% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245 28% below U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$2,277 27% below U.S. |
$1,909Lowest 39% 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% |
57.6%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest 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% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | #123 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 73 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | Winnacunnet High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.1Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.