Compare towns
Franklin vs Limestone vs Mapleton vs Brooks
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%).
Limestone has the most affordable homes ($98k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Limestone | Mapleton | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,628 |
1,579 |
1,884Highest |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
45.3±4.9 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
| Franklin and Brooks 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% |
20.7%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Limestone 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% |
21.7%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Franklin and Limestone 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% |
20.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Limestone and Brooks 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 |
$49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$59,130±$10k 21% below ME |
| Mapleton 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 |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
| Franklin and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306 22% below ME |
$754±$233 34% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,116±$112Highest about the ME average |
| Brooks and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,231Highest 27% below ME |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,096 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Limestone 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% |
16.4% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.