Compare towns
Jay vs Temple vs Canton vs Chesterville
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).
Temple has the youngest population (median age 34).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
Chesterville has the most expensive homes ($214k 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 | Temple | Canton | Chesterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
824Lowest |
1,191 |
1,397 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
34±14Lowest 24% below ME |
41.4±7.2Highest 8% below ME |
37.8±4 16% below ME |
| Canton and Jay 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% |
32.8%±7.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Temple and Chesterville 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% |
15%±6.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
15%±3Lowest 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% |
13.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.7% ME: 36.2% |
20.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Temple 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 |
$56,087±$2k 25% below ME |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
$61,635±$10k 18% below ME |
| Jay and Chesterville 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 |
$210,200±$79k 29% below ME |
$165,000±$50kLowest 44% below ME |
$214,000±$40kHighest 28% below ME |
| Chesterville and Temple 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 |
$1,458±$565Highest 28% above ME |
$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,088±$73 4% below ME |
| Temple and Chesterville 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 |
$2,367Highest 22% below ME |
$2,277 25% below ME |
$2,194Lowest 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
73.3%±70.5 ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Temple 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% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
8.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
34 min 37% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±8.4 ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Temple 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 | — | — | — |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | — | — | — |
| 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.