Compare towns
Franklin vs Hope vs Union
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 renters (23.2% rent).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628Lowest |
1,748 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% 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%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Hope 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% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Franklin and Union 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% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Franklin and Union 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 |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$59kLowest 17% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,231Lowest 27% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest 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% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Hope Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.