Compare towns
Franklin vs Mapleton vs Monroe vs Hancock
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Monroe has the most homeowners (87.4%).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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 | Monroe | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,628 |
1,884 |
1,001Lowest |
2,518Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME |
| Hancock 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 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe 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 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Hancock 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,455±$16kLowest 12% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
$72,285±$5k 3% below ME |
| Mapleton and Monroe 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±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
$276,800±$51kHighest 7% below ME |
| Hancock and Franklin 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,165±$152 about the ME average |
$1,171±$65Highest about the ME average |
| Hancock and Monroe 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
$1,869 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
42%±15.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Hancock 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% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 28% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Franklin and Monroe 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 | — | — | — | #117 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Hancock Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.