Compare towns
Danforth vs Franklin vs Mapleton vs Washburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Washburn has the shortest commute (21 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 | Danforth | Franklin | Mapleton | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666Lowest |
1,628 |
1,884Highest |
1,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
46±9.3 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
48.2±7.7 8% above ME |
| Danforth and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$65,455±$16k 12% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$56,196±$6k 25% below ME |
| Mapleton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$245,800±$59kHighest 17% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$112,900±$14k 62% below ME |
| Franklin and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29 45% below ME |
$888±$306Highest 22% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
| Franklin and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,231Highest 27% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,571 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Franklin and Mapleton 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 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.