Compare towns
Franklin vs Mapleton vs Phillips vs Union
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 most renters (23.2% rent).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Phillips has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Phillips | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,628 |
1,884 |
1,094Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3 about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Phillips and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union 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%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Franklin and Union 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% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| 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 12% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Mapleton and Union 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 |
$190,800±$18kLowest 36% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Union 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±$277 46% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union 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 |
$2,582 15% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Phillips and Franklin 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Phillips and Union 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 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.