Compare towns
Jay vs Ogunquit vs Pittsfield 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Pittsfield has the most kids (22.5% 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 | Ogunquit | Pittsfield | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
1,379 |
3,930 |
1,191Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+13.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
40±6.5 11% below ME |
41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Pittsfield 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±3.6Lowest 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.7% ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Pittsfield 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$57,381±$12k 23% below ME |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
| Ogunquit 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 43% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$164,100±$17kLowest 45% below ME |
$165,000±$50k 44% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141 33% below ME |
— | $825±$260Highest 28% below ME |
$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
| Pittsfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245 26% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,965Lowest 35% below ME |
$2,277 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±21.2 ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
24 min about the ME average |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.6%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #86 of 133 in ME | — | #125 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | — | RSU 53/MSAD 53 | — |
| 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.