Compare towns
Embden vs Franklin vs Mapleton vs St. Agatha
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Embden has the most people working from home (18.7%).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
St. Agatha 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 | Embden | Franklin | Mapleton | St. Agatha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 995 |
1,628 |
1,884Highest |
842Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
46±9.3 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
55.3±8.6 23% above ME |
| Embden and St. Agatha are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and St. Agatha are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.3%±5 ME: 22.4% |
| Embden and St. Agatha are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2% ME: 36.2% |
28.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±0.9 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 | $56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME |
$65,455±$16k 12% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$75,417±$34k about the ME average |
| Mapleton and St. Agatha are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,400±$59kLowest 42% below ME |
$245,800±$59kHighest 17% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$187,500±$47k 37% 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 | — | $888±$306Highest 22% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$435±$176Lowest 62% below ME |
| Franklin and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,804 41% below ME |
$2,231Highest 27% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,617Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
35.5%±44.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Franklin and St. Agatha are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
90.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 34% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
7.8%±7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden 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 33/MSAD 33 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Wisdom Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.1 |
| 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.