Compare towns
Franklin vs Wayne 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).
West Paris has the most affordable homes ($193k 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 | Wayne | West Paris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628 |
1,101Lowest |
1,808Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Lowest about the ME average |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
46±7.9Lowest 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%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Franklin and West Paris 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% |
25.2%±4.9Lowest 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% |
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% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 12% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$56,324±$5kLowest 25% below ME |
| Wayne 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$193,000±$20kLowest 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306 22% below ME |
$983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
$838±$333Lowest 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 |
$2,083Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest 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% |
24.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
32 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest 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 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.