Compare towns
Franklin vs Mason vs Mars Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Mason has the highest household income ($111k).
Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 | Mason | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628Highest |
1,451 |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
43.4±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 19% below U.S. |
$111,090±$3kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$65,273±$9kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$59k 26% below U.S. |
$384,000±$21kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$163,600±$23kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306 37% below U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$488±$96Lowest 65% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,231 28% below U.S. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$1,843Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mason School District | RSU 42/MSAD 42 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.