Compare towns
Franklin vs Danforth vs Chapman 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 most affordable homes ($90k median).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
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 | Chapman | West Paris |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,628 |
666 |
388Lowest |
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±9.3 about the ME average |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
45.7±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
46±7.9 about the ME average |
| Danforth and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.2%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Danforth 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% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
23.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman 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±$16k 12% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$56,324±$5k 25% below ME |
| Chapman 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±$59kHighest 17% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$185,700±$22k 37% 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±$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 |
$1,850 39% below ME |
$2,083 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
24.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
32 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest 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.