Compare towns
Franklin vs Mapleton vs Mars Hill vs Unity
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 highest household income ($92k).
Mars Hill has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Mars Hill | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,628 |
1,884Highest |
1,398 |
1,375Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±9.3 18% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.4±3 12% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Unity and Franklin 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mars Hill and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%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% |
4.8%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Mars Hill 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±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$65,273±$9kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Unity 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±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$163,600±$23kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Unity and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306 37% below U.S. |
$610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$488±$96Lowest 65% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$1,843 41% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above 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% |
30.6%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Franklin and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | Unity School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | None in town |
| 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.