Compare towns
Jay vs Jefferson vs Ogunquit 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Canton has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
2,647 |
1,379 |
1,191Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+13.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest 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%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit 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% ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
| Ogunquit 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±$35k 5% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$165,000±$50kLowest 44% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141 33% below ME |
$1,120±$130Highest about the ME average |
— | $485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
$2,587 15% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,277 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr 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 |
26 min 7% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #86 of 133 in ME | #45 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | Jefferson Public Schools | — | — |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | 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.