Compare towns
Franklin vs Danforth vs Danforth vs West Paris
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most expensive homes ($246k median).
Danforth has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Danforth has the oldest population (median age 53.1).
West Paris has the most people working from home (23.8%).
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 | Danforth | Danforth | West Paris |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,628 |
452Lowest |
666 |
1,808Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Lowest about the ME average |
51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
46±7.9Lowest about the ME average |
| Danforth and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Franklin and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.2%±4.9 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+ | 28.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
9% ME: 36.2% |
23.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Franklin and Danforth 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 12% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$48,125±$8k 36% below ME |
$56,324±$5k 25% below ME |
| Franklin and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$59kHighest 17% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$89,900±$36k 70% below ME |
$193,000±$20k 35% below ME |
| Franklin and West Paris 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 |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$838±$333 26% below ME |
| Franklin and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,231Highest 27% below ME |
— | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,083 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
61.5%±34.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| West Paris and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.7% ME: 10.7% |
12%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
24.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.4% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
32 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
23.8%±18.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| West Paris and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| 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.