Compare towns
Franklin vs Union vs Unity 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 the oldest population (median age 46).
Union has the highest household income ($81k).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Union | Unity | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,628 |
2,663Highest |
1,858 |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
43.4±3 3% below ME |
| Franklin and Mars Hill 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% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Union 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 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,455±$16k 12% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$65,273±$9k 13% below ME |
| Union 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 |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
| Union 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 |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
| Union 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 |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$1,843Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Unity 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% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 42/MSAD 42 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4Highest |
8.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.