Compare towns
Franklin vs Jay vs Sandgate vs Mars Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most expensive homes ($246k median).
Jay has the highest household income ($75k).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
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 | Sandgate | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,628Highest |
471 |
435Lowest |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -8.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±9.3 18% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.4±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mars Hill and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sandgate and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 19% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$65,273±$9kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Jay and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$59kHighest 26% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31k 42% below U.S. |
$163,600±$23kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| 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 37% below U.S. |
— | — | $488±$96Lowest 65% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,231 28% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,778 11% below U.S. |
$1,843Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.