Compare towns

Franklin vs Mapleton vs Solon

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 highest household income ($92k).
Solon has the most homeowners (88.6%).

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.

MeasureFranklinMapletonSolon
People
Population
1,628
1,884Highest
963Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%
ME: +2.6%
-7.1%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
46±9.3Highest
about the ME average
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
45.9±5.4
about the ME average
Franklin and Solon 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%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
17.2%±4.6
ME: 18.1%
Mapleton and Solon 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%
23.9%±3.6
ME: 22.4%
Franklin and Solon 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%Highest
ME: 36.2%
25%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.6
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.3%±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±$16kLowest
12% below ME
$91,731±$25kHighest
23% above ME
$69,205±$20k
7% below ME
Mapleton and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,800±$59kHighest
17% below ME
$191,800±$23k
35% below ME
$183,600±$12kLowest
38% below ME
Franklin and Mapleton 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
$915±$100Highest
20% below ME
Solon and Franklin 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
$1,854
39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.7%±27.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5
ME: 48.4%
14.6%±48.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Franklin and Mapleton 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%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
10.7%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
79.9%
ME: 74.3%
88.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
7 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
18% above ME
28 minLowest
13% above ME
52 minHighest
113% above ME
Work from home
12.2%±5.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
9.1%±4.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
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 74/MSAD 74
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.