Compare towns
Brooks vs Steep Falls vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Steep Falls has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Franklin has the most expensive homes ($246k 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 | Brooks | Steep Falls | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
1,861Highest |
1,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
44.1±6.5Lowest about the ME average |
46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
| Franklin and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±9.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Steep Falls and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% ME: 36.2% |
14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±3.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
$80,280±$33kHighest 7% above ME |
$65,455±$16k 12% below ME |
| Steep Falls and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$243,400±$31k 18% below ME |
$245,800±$59kHighest 17% below ME |
| Franklin and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112 about the ME average |
$1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
$888±$306Lowest 22% below ME |
| Steep Falls and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
$3,273Highest 8% above ME |
$2,231 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.4%±36.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Steep Falls and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
31 minHighest 25% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Brooks and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.