Compare towns

Franklin vs Gray vs Mapleton

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 oldest population (median age 46).
Gray has the most expensive homes ($364k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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.

MeasureFranklinGrayMapleton
People
Population
1,628Lowest
8,429Highest
1,884
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
ME: +2.6%
+6.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
46±9.3Highest
about the ME average
43.4±4.5
3% below ME
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
Franklin and Gray 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%
19%±4
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
Mapleton and Gray 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%
19.3%±4
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Franklin and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
44.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
34.3%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.6Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.4%±2.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
Gray and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$65,455±$16kLowest
12% below ME
$95,236±$8kHighest
27% above ME
$91,731±$25k
23% above ME
Gray and Mapleton 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
$363,700±$20kHighest
23% above ME
$191,800±$23kLowest
35% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$888±$306
22% below ME
$1,371±$89Highest
20% above ME
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,231
27% below ME
$3,683Highest
21% above ME
$1,789Lowest
41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.7%±27.8
ME: 48.4%
56.4%±24Highest
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Gray and Franklin 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%
3.5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
8.9%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
82.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
79.9%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
7 yrs newer than ME
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
18% above ME
29 min
16% above ME
28 minLowest
13% above ME
Work from home
12.2%±5.5
ME: 15.9%
12.3%±3.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Gray 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 — #10 of 133 in ME —
School district — RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences RSU 79/MSAD 01
High school in town — Gray-New Gloucester High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.5
—
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.