Compare towns
Franklin vs Unity vs Brooks
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).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k 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 | Unity | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628 |
1,858Highest |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
| Franklin and Brooks 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% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Brooks 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,455±$16kHighest 12% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
| Franklin and Unity 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 |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
| Franklin and Unity 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 |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,116±$112Highest about the ME average |
| Brooks 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 |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
74.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.