Compare towns
Jay vs Readfield vs Wayne 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).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Readfield | Wayne | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
2,651 |
1,101Lowest |
1,191 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8% ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Canton and Readfield 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% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$165,000±$50kLowest 44% below ME |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 |
$1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
| Readfield and Wayne 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 |
$3,392Highest 12% above ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$2,277 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Readfield 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% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | RSU 38 | RSU 38 | — |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.5Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.