Compare towns
Franklin vs Mapleton vs New Gloucester 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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
New Gloucester has the most expensive homes ($357k median).
Brooks has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | New Gloucester | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,628 |
1,884 |
5,766Highest |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.4% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.1±5.5Lowest 10% 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| New Gloucester 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% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.7% ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks 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±$16k 12% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$108,797±$12kHighest 46% above ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
| New Gloucester 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±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$357,100±$29kHighest 20% above ME |
$196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306 22% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,150±$249Highest about the ME average |
$1,116±$112 about the ME average |
| New Gloucester and Brooks 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 |
$3,417Highest 13% above ME |
$2,096 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.7%±12 ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Franklin and New Gloucester 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Brooks and New Gloucester 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 | — | — | #65 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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 |
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.