Compare towns
Franklin vs Wells vs Brownington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Brownington has the most affordable homes ($194k 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 | Wells | Brownington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,590 |
11,713Highest |
1,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
40.5±4.5 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brownington and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21k about the U.S. average |
$88,024±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$75,556±$17kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Wells and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,400±$66k 26% below U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$193,800±$40kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266 37% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
$745±$504Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Wells and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384 8% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$3,912Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.5%±29.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brownington and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Franklin and Wells 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.