Compare towns
Franklin vs West Bath 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
West Bath has the most expensive homes ($423k median).
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k 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 | West Bath | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628 |
1,863Highest |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3 about the ME average |
54.2±5.6Highest 21% above ME |
45.9±6.6Lowest about the ME average |
| West Bath 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% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest 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%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
29.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| West Bath 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% |
50.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and West Bath 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 |
$103,333±$27kHighest 38% above ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
| West Bath 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 |
$422,800±$102kHighest 43% above ME |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,112±$327 about the ME average |
$1,116±$112Highest about the ME average |
| Brooks and West Bath 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 |
$3,516Highest 16% above ME |
$2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| West Bath 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest 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 16% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
| West Bath and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | West Bath Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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.