Compare towns
Franklin vs Mapleton vs Dorset vs West Paris
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
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 | Mapleton | Dorset | West Paris |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,628Lowest |
1,884 |
2,092Highest |
1,808 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
46±7.9Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$56,324±$5kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$59k 26% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$193,000±$20k 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306 37% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$838±$333 41% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Franklin 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$2,083 33% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.5%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.8%±18.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.