Compare towns
Mars Hill vs Jackson 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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Jackson | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,398 |
567Lowest |
1,628Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±3 3% below ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
| Franklin and Mars Hill 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% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Jackson 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% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest 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±$9kLowest 13% below ME |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$65,455±$16k 12% below ME |
| Jackson and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$245,800±$59kHighest 17% below ME |
| Franklin and Jackson 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±$12 45% below ME |
$888±$306Highest 22% below ME |
| Franklin and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,843Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$2,231 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Mars Hill 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% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Franklin 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 Our Story | 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.