Compare towns
Franklin vs Mapleton vs Waterboro
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).
Waterboro has the most expensive homes ($297k 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 | Waterboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628Lowest |
1,884 |
8,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
42±3.1 6% below ME |
| Franklin and Waterboro 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% |
22.5%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waterboro 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% |
14.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Waterboro 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 |
$89,392±$16k 20% above ME |
| Mapleton and Waterboro 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 |
$297,000±$23kHighest about the ME average |
| Waterboro 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 |
$1,200±$461Highest 5% above ME |
| Waterboro 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 |
$2,772Highest 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.2%±12.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waterboro and Franklin 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% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
10%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Franklin and Mapleton 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 | — | — | #80 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Massabesic High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.