Compare towns
Knox vs Mapleton 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
Knox has the most affordable homes ($160k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
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 | Knox | Mapleton | Wayne | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 825Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,101 |
1,191 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±7.9Lowest 8% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 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+ | 26% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
| Wayne and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $159,600±$26kLowest 46% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$165,000±$50k 44% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
| Knox and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$2,277 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest 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 | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 38 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.