Compare towns
Franklin vs Jay 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Jay has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Mars Hill has the most kids (22.9% 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 | Jay | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628 |
4,657Highest |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
43.4±3 3% below ME |
| Franklin and Mars Hill 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% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Jay 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%±4.7Lowest 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% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mars Hill and Jay 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 |
$70,238±$19kHighest 6% below ME |
$65,273±$9kLowest 13% below ME |
| Jay 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 |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
| Franklin and Jay 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 |
$759±$141 33% below ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
| Franklin and Jay 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 |
$2,245Highest 26% below ME |
$1,843Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Mars Hill 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% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
21 min 13% below ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Franklin and Mars Hill 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 | — | #86 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 73 | RSU 42/MSAD 42 |
| High school in town | — | Spruce Mountain High School | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
8.0Lowest |
| 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.