Compare towns
Franklin vs Windham 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 the oldest population (median age 46).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Windham | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628 |
19,188Highest |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below ME |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
| Franklin and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Windham and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks 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 |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$59k 17% below ME |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,232±$332Highest 8% above ME |
$1,116±$112 about the ME average |
| Windham and Brooks 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 |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Windham 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% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Windham and Brooks 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 | — | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 14 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.