Compare towns
Franklin vs Hope 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 the oldest population (median age 46).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Hope | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628 |
1,748Highest |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
43.4±3Lowest 3% below ME |
| Franklin and Hope 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% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Mars Hill 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% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest 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% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mars Hill 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 |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$65,273±$9kLowest 13% below ME |
| Hope 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 |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306 22% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
| Hope 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 |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,843Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Hope 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Hope Public Schools | 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.