Compare towns
Franklin vs Wayne vs Mapleton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
West Paris has the oldest housing (typical home built 1973).
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 | Wayne | Mapleton | West Paris |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,628 |
1,101Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,808 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3 about the ME average |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
46±7.9 about the ME average |
| Wayne 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% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne 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% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
23.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Mapleton 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 12% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$56,324±$5kLowest 25% below ME |
| Wayne and Mapleton 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$193,000±$20k 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306 22% below ME |
$983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$838±$333 26% below ME |
| Wayne 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 |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,083 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
24.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
80.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.8%±18.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 38 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.