Compare towns
Franklin vs Starks vs Mars Hill
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%).
Starks has the most homeowners (90%).
Mars Hill has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Starks | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628Highest |
556Lowest |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3 about the ME average |
46.7±9.4Highest 4% above ME |
43.4±3Lowest 3% below ME |
| Starks and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Starks 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% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
| 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4Highest 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±$16kHighest 12% below ME |
$63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME |
$65,273±$9k 13% below ME |
| Franklin and Mars Hill 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 |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$163,600±$23k 45% below ME |
| Franklin and Mars Hill 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 |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
| Starks 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 |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,843 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Starks 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% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6 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 | |||
| School district | — | — | RSU 42/MSAD 42 |
| High school 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 |
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.