Compare towns
Franklin vs Jackson 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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Jackson | West Paris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628 |
567Lowest |
1,808Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
46±7.9Highest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Jackson and Franklin 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% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Franklin and West Paris 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% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Franklin and West Paris 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 |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$56,324±$5kLowest 25% below ME |
| Jackson 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 |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$193,000±$20kLowest 35% below ME |
| Franklin and Jackson 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±$12Lowest 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 | $2,231 27% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$2,083Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest 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% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
24.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
80.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
32 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
23.8%±18.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| West Paris and Jackson 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 |
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.