Compare towns
Franklin vs Barton vs Mars Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
Mars Hill 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 | Franklin | Barton | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628Highest |
730Lowest |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.4±3 12% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mars Hill and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,455±$16kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$65,273±$9k 19% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$59kHighest 26% below U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$163,600±$23k 51% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306Highest 37% below U.S. |
$761±$150 46% below U.S. |
$488±$96Lowest 65% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,231 28% below U.S. |
$3,185Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,843Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | RSU 42/MSAD 42 |
| High school in town | — | — | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.