Compare towns
Jay vs Jefferson vs Levant vs Canton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
Levant has the highest household income ($86k).
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 | Jefferson | Levant | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
2,647 |
3,069 |
1,191Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
+3.1% ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
39.7±2.2 11% below ME |
41.4±7.2Highest 8% below ME |
| Canton and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.1%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Canton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
21.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson 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 6% below ME |
$85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
$86,071±$22kHighest 15% above ME |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
| Levant and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$268,500±$27k 9% below ME |
$165,000±$50kLowest 44% below ME |
| Jefferson and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141 33% below ME |
$1,120±$130 about the ME average |
$1,370±$120Highest 20% above ME |
$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
| Levant and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
$2,587Highest 15% below ME |
$2,580 15% below ME |
$2,277 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
45.7%±14 ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
8.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
83.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 min 27% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Jefferson 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 | #45 of 133 in ME | #124 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | Jefferson Public Schools | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | — |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.