Compare towns
Jay vs Wayne vs Wilton 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 most expensive homes ($363k median).
Wilton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Wayne | Wilton | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
1,101Lowest |
3,862 |
1,191 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
-6.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
46.1±6.6 about the ME average |
41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
| Wayne and Wilton 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% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Wilton 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
27%±5.8 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% |
31.5% ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.5 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 |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$63,396±$23k 15% below ME |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
| Wayne 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$202,000±$30k 32% below ME |
$165,000±$50kLowest 44% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141 33% below ME |
$983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
$446±$274Lowest 61% below ME |
$485±$18 57% below ME |
| Wayne and Jay 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 |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$2,344 23% below ME |
$2,277 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
52.5%±31.1 ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Wilton 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% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.1%±7.3 ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne 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 | — | #121 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | RSU 38 | RSU 09 | — |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | 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.