Compare towns
Franklin vs Mapleton vs Mars Hill vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the oldest population (median age 46).
Mars Hill has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($389k 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 | Mars Hill | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,628 |
1,884 |
1,398Lowest |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43.4±3 3% below ME |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
| 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%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| 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 12% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$65,273±$9kLowest 13% below ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
| Windham 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 17% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306 22% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,232±$332Highest 8% above ME |
| Windham and Franklin 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,843 39% below ME |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Windham 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Windham and Franklin 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 | — | — | — | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.