Compare towns
Brooks vs Unity vs Franklin vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Unity | Franklin | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,375 |
1,628Highest |
926Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 18% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
46±9.3 18% above U.S. |
37.5±9.6Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Unity and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waldo and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 27% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$65,455±$16k 19% below U.S. |
$71,458±$21k 11% below U.S. |
| Unity and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$245,800±$59k 26% below U.S. |
$208,000±$41k 37% below U.S. |
| Unity and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112 21% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$888±$306Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,150±$691 19% below U.S. |
| Unity and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 33% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$2,231 28% below U.S. |
$1,623Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.1%±36.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waldo and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waldo and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Unity School District | — | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.