Compare towns
Mapleton vs Anson vs Union vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Mapleton | Anson | Union | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
2,331 |
2,663Highest |
1,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
46.7±6.2Highest 4% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
46±9.3 about the ME average |
| Anson and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Franklin and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$65,455±$16k 12% below ME |
| Mapleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$245,800±$59k 17% below ME |
| Union and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$928±$62 19% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$888±$306 22% below ME |
| Union and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 41% below ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$2,231 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Carrabec High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.