Compare towns

Franklin vs Springfield vs West Paris

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 expensive homes ($246k median).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($123k median).
West Paris has the most people working from home (23.8%).

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.

MeasureFranklinSpringfieldWest Paris
People
Population
1,628
310Lowest
1,808Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%Highest
ME: +2.6%
—
-2.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
46±9.3Lowest
about the ME average
52.4±7Highest
17% above ME
46±7.9Lowest
about the ME average
Springfield 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%
18.1%±5.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
14.3%±3.3Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Springfield and Franklin 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%
21.6%±5.4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
25.2%±4.9
ME: 22.4%
Franklin and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
17.3%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
23.1%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
0.6%±3.7Lowest
ME: 5.8%
2.4%±1.6
ME: 5.8%
Franklin and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$65,455±$16kHighest
12% below ME
$60,833±$23k
19% below ME
$56,324±$5kLowest
25% below ME
Franklin and Springfield 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
$122,500±$28kLowest
59% below ME
$193,000±$20k
35% below ME
Franklin and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$888±$306Highest
22% below ME
—
$838±$333Lowest
26% below ME
Franklin and West Paris 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
$1,067Lowest
65% below ME
$2,083
31% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.7%±27.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
—
61.5%±34.6Highest
ME: 48.4%
West Paris 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%
5.5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
24.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
96.2%Highest
ME: 74.3%
80.9%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
7 yrs newer than ME
1987Highest
10 yrs newer than ME
1973Lowest
4 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
18% above ME
30 min
21% above ME
32 minHighest
32% above ME
Work from home
12.2%±5.5
ME: 15.9%
9.6%±5.2Lowest
ME: 15.9%
23.8%±18.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
West Paris and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — RSU 17/MSAD 17
High school 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.