Compare towns

Franklin vs Hampden 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).
Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).
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.

MeasureFranklinHampdenMapleton
People
Population
1,628Lowest
7,896Highest
1,884
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
ME: +2.6%
+6.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
46±9.3Highest
about the ME average
41±2.9Lowest
8% below ME
41.8±6
7% below ME
Franklin and Mapleton 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%
25.8%±5.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5.1
ME: 18.1%
Hampden and Mapleton 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%
17.2%±3.6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
45.9%Highest
ME: 36.2%
34.3%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.6Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.3%±2.3Highest
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
Hampden 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
$111,959±$13kHighest
50% above ME
$91,731±$25k
23% above ME
Hampden 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
$301,300±$38kHighest
about the ME average
$191,800±$23kLowest
35% below ME
Hampden and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$888±$306
22% below ME
$1,286±$317Highest
13% above ME
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
Hampden and Franklin 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
$3,694Highest
22% above ME
$1,789Lowest
41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.7%±27.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
22.2%±15.1
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Franklin and Hampden 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%
7.5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
8.9%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
85.7%Highest
ME: 74.3%
79.9%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
7 yrs newer than ME
1982
5 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
18% above ME
23 minLowest
7% below ME
28 min
13% above ME
Work from home
12.2%±5.5
ME: 15.9%
21.3%±5.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Hampden 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 — #6 of 133 in ME —
School district — RSU 22 RSU 79/MSAD 01
High school in town — Hampden Academy None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.8
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.