Compare towns
Franklin vs Unity vs Berwick 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
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Unity | Berwick | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,628 |
1,375Lowest |
8,175Highest |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±9.3 18% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.4±3 12% above U.S. |
| Unity 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 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mars Hill and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Franklin 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% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 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. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$65,273±$9kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Berwick 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±$59k 26% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$369,100±$19kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$163,600±$23kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306 37% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$488±$96Lowest 65% below U.S. |
| Unity and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,231 28% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,436 42% above U.S. |
$1,843Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick and Unity 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #101 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Unity School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 42/MSAD 42 |
| High school in town | — | None 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 | 4 photos → | 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.