Compare towns
Jay vs Phillips 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 highest household income ($70k).
Phillips has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Phillips | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
1,094Lowest |
1,191 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
| Phillips and Canton 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% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Canton and Phillips 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% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19kHighest 6% below ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$52,458±$35k 30% below ME |
| Jay and Canton 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 |
$190,800±$18kHighest 36% below ME |
$165,000±$50kLowest 44% below ME |
| Phillips and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Highest 33% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$485±$18 57% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$2,277 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Phillips 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% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Phillips 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | — |
| 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 |
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.