Compare towns
Franklin vs West Bath vs Sullivan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
Bordering FranklinHancock
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).
Sullivan has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628 |
1,863Highest |
1,246Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
-1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Lowest about the ME average |
54.2±5.6Highest 21% above ME |
47.1±15 5% above ME |
| West Bath and Sullivan 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% |
18%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sullivan 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% |
22.5%±2.9Lowest 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% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan 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 |
$59,643±$14kLowest 20% 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 |
$222,000±$33kLowest 25% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306 22% below ME |
$1,112±$327Highest about the ME average |
$883±$114Lowest 22% below ME |
| West Bath 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 |
$3,516Highest 16% above ME |
$2,228Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6Lowest 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.3% ME: 74.3% |
85.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
| West Bath and Sullivan 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 24 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.