Compare towns
Chapman vs Franklin vs Mapleton vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Franklin has the most expensive homes ($246k median).
Mapleton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Chapman | Franklin | Mapleton | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 388Lowest |
1,628 |
1,884Highest |
1,858 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
| Franklin and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.8% ME: 36.2% |
28.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$65,455±$16k 12% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
$245,800±$59kHighest 17% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
| Franklin and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $888±$306Highest 22% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
| Franklin and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,850 39% below ME |
$2,231 27% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Unity and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 6% below ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Franklin 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 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.4 |
| 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.