Compare towns
Brooklin vs Franklin vs Mars Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooklin has the most expensive homes ($339k median).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Mars Hill has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Brooklin | Franklin | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 869Lowest |
1,628Highest |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.4% ME: +2.6% |
+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±3.7Highest 10% above ME |
46±9.3 about the ME average |
43.4±3Lowest 3% below ME |
| Brooklin and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Franklin and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.5% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooklin and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,750±$8kHighest 8% below ME |
$65,455±$16k 12% below ME |
$65,273±$9kLowest 13% below ME |
| Brooklin and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,400±$90kHighest 14% above ME |
$245,800±$59k 17% below ME |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
| Brooklin and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,236±$137Highest 9% above ME |
$888±$306 22% below ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
| Brooklin and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,792Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,231Highest 27% below ME |
$1,843 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.5%±25Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% above ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.5%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Brooklin and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Brooklin Public Schools | — | RSU 42/MSAD 42 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.