Compare towns
Mars Hill vs Danforth vs Weston vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mars Hill has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Weston has the most homeowners (93.1%).
Franklin has the most expensive homes ($246k 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 | Mars Hill | Danforth | Weston | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,398 |
452 |
275Lowest |
1,628Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | — | +5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±3Lowest 3% below ME |
51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
55.1±14Highest 23% above ME |
46±9.3 about the ME average |
| Weston and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±7.2 ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Franklin and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.3% ME: 36.2% |
28.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±4.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Mars Hill and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,273±$9k 13% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$58,942±$7k 21% below ME |
$65,455±$16kHighest 12% below ME |
| Franklin and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,600±$23k 45% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$171,700±$26k 42% below ME |
$245,800±$59kHighest 17% below ME |
| Franklin and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
$629±$22 45% below ME |
— | $888±$306Highest 22% below ME |
| Franklin and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,843 39% below ME |
— | $1,500Lowest 51% below ME |
$2,231Highest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Weston and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
19.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.4% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 14% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.9%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±12.7 ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Franklin and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | — | — | — |
| High school in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.0 |
— | — | — |
| 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.