Compare towns
Franklin vs Mars Hill vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
Bordering FranklinSullivan
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Mars Hill has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Mars Hill | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628 |
1,398Lowest |
2,518Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3 about the ME average |
43.4±3Lowest 3% below ME |
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% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Franklin 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% |
24.5%±5.8Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mars Hill 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 |
$65,273±$9kLowest 13% below ME |
$72,285±$5kHighest 3% below ME |
| Hancock and Franklin 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 |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% 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 |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,171±$65Highest about the ME average |
| Hancock 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 |
$1,843Lowest 39% below ME |
$1,869 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42%±15.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Hancock 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% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
8.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Franklin and Mars Hill 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 42/MSAD 42 | Hancock Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.0 |
— |
| 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.