Compare towns
China vs Franklin vs Mapleton vs Winslow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
China has the most homeowners (91.8%).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Winslow has the shortest commute (23 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 | China | Franklin | Mapleton | Winslow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,526 |
1,628Lowest |
1,884 |
8,023Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
46±9.3 about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
47.6±3.6Highest 6% above ME |
| Winslow and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.3%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Franklin and Winslow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9% ME: 36.2% |
28.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.6%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Winslow and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,309±$12kHighest 29% above ME |
$65,455±$16kLowest 12% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$70,917±$9k 5% below ME |
| China and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,000±$37k 19% below ME |
$245,800±$59kHighest 17% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$225,300±$11k 24% below ME |
| Franklin and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $888±$306 22% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,041±$221Highest 9% below ME |
| Winslow and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535 17% below ME |
$2,231 27% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,809Highest 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
56.7%±9.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Winslow and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
76.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 21% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| China and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #27 of 133 in ME | — | — | #57 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Winslow Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Winslow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.3 |
| 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.