Compare towns
Franklin vs Belgrade vs Mars Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
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 | Belgrade | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628 |
3,351Highest |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3 about the ME average |
47.3±14.6Highest 6% above ME |
43.4±3Lowest 3% below ME |
| Belgrade and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
| 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% ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,455±$16k 12% below ME |
$88,338±$13kHighest 18% above ME |
$65,273±$9kLowest 13% below ME |
| Belgrade and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$59k 17% below ME |
$312,200±$44kHighest 5% above ME |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
| Belgrade and Franklin 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 |
$857±$108 25% below ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
| Franklin and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,231 27% below ME |
$2,859Highest 6% below ME |
$1,843Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade 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 | — | #71 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 18 | RSU 42/MSAD 42 |
| High school in town | — | None 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 |
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.