1st Advantage MortgageThe median Franklin County household earns $58,675, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Franklin County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- Who lives in Franklin County
- Where Franklin County households live
- Franklin County against other Maine counties
- Earnings across Franklin County households
- Where Franklin County works
- The communities that make up Franklin County
- Counties near Franklin County
- Who lives in Franklin County, in numbers
- Debt-to-income at Franklin County's medians
- Local borrowing considerations for Franklin County
- Before you sign
- Verifying a lender from Franklin County
- Beyond Franklin County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Franklin County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Franklin County's population at 30,413; only 14 of Maine's 16 county-level areas are larger. It covers 1,697 square miles of land, or about 18 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Franklin County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Farmington (4,705 people) heads the county's list of 21 Census places, 16 incorporated and 5 census-designated.
Where Franklin County households live
Renters in Franklin County pay a median of $802 a month, 30% below the Maine figure of $1,139. About 4 in 10 Franklin County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. With a median value of $194,700, a typical Franklin County house costs 3.3 times what the median household earns in a year. In Franklin County, 76% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Half the housing stock was built before 1978. Nationally, Franklin County's $802 rent is 9% below the middle county.
| Measure | Franklin County | Maine | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $802/mo | $1,139/mo | 30% lower |
| Median home value | $194,700 | $296,600 | 34% lower |
| Owners | 76% | 74% | +2.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 48% | -4.1 pts |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 27% | +3.1 pts |
| Mobile homes | 9.1% | 8.2% | +0.9 pts |
| Vacant units | 40% | 21% | +19.7 pts |
Because most Franklin County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Franklin County against other Maine counties
- Few Maine counties match Franklin County on population: 30,413 here, 1,387,817 for the state, ranking 2nd lowest of 16. In a small county, the nearest lender may not be the best; compare online offers too.
- On households without a vehicle, Franklin County sits near the top of Maine at 9.2%, 2nd highest of 16. Without a car, transit and ride costs belong in the budget before any payment.
- Few Maine counties match Franklin County on the housing vacancy rate: 40% here, 21% for the state, ranking 2nd highest of 16. High vacancy often reflects seasonal or second homes.
Earnings across Franklin County households
Half of Franklin County households take in less than $58,675 a year and half take in more, 21% below the Maine median of $74,733.
| Households earning | Franklin County | +/- vs Maine |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.9% | +6.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.2% | +3.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.6% | -5.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -4.1 pts |
Some 29% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 27% have six-figure incomes. 12.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.7%). A household earning below the $58,675 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Where Franklin County works
Education and health care employs 33% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. Compared with Maine, the county leans toward education and health care (33% against 27%). The survey's unemployment rate for Franklin County averages 4.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.8%). 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 13% work from home.
| Top industries | Franklin County share | +/- vs Maine |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 32.6% | +5.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | -1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.5% | +1.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.0% | -2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.2% | -0.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The communities that make up Franklin County
23,853 of Franklin County's 30,413 residents live in its 21 Census places (78%); the 14 largest are listed. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $37,250 in Kingfield to $88,750 in Carrabassett Valley. None of the 21 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmington | CDP | 4,705 | $41,033 | $871 | 25 mi |
| Jay | town | 4,657 | $70,238 | $759 | 33 mi |
| Wilton | CDP | 1,687 | $48,177 | $605 | 28 mi |
| New Sharon | town | 1,550 | $63,889 | $961 | 30 mi |
| Chesterville | town | 1,397 | $61,635 | $1,088 | 34 mi |
| Strong | town | 1,249 | $47,557 | $920 | 17 mi |
| Phillips | town | 1,094 | $45,385 | $483 | 10 mi |
| Chisholm | CDP | 988 | $57,826 | $787 | 35 mi |
| Industry | town | 988 | $63,056 | $1,049 | 24 mi |
| Carthage | town | 845 | $79,107 | $811 | 26 mi |
| Temple | town | 824 | $56,087 | $1,458 | 21 mi |
| Carrabassett Valley | town | 637 | $88,750 | n/a | 9 mi |
| New Vineyard | town | 607 | $61,806 | $925 | 20 mi |
| Kingfield | CDP | 586 | $37,250 | $442 | 12 mi |
Counties near Franklin County
Oxford County is closest, 37 miles from center to center; the sixth, Essex County, is 67 miles off. Kennebec County leads the group on income ($69,077), Coos County trails ($57,677), and Franklin County out-earns 2 of the six. The list crosses into New Hampshire, Vermont, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | - | $58,675 | $802/mo | 76% |
| Oxford County, ME | 37 mi | $60,173 | $836/mo | 81% |
| Somerset County, ME | 43 mi | $58,179 | $910/mo | 77% |
| Coos County, NH | 48 mi | $57,677 | $876/mo | 74% |
| Kennebec County, ME | 50 mi | $69,077 | $992/mo | 74% |
| Androscoggin County, ME | 57 mi | $67,873 | $1,010/mo | 68% |
| Essex County, VT | 67 mi | $59,294 | $827/mo | 82% |
Who lives in Franklin County, in numbers
32% of Franklin County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 8% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Franklin County | Compared with Maine | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.0% | -4.2 pts | +9.9 pts |
| Work from home | 13.0% | -2.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
| No vehicle | 9.2% | +2.4 pts | +3.7 pts |
| No health insurance | 7.9% | +1.7 pts | +0.1 pts |
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | +1.4 pts | -1.0 pts |
| Median age | 46.1 | +1.3 yrs | +4.6 yrs |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.6% | +0.8 pts | +0.2 pts |
| No high school diploma | 5.9% | +0.6 pts | n/a |
| Minutes to work | Franklin County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.2% |
| 60+ min | 11.2% |
Debt-to-income at Franklin County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Franklin County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,890 before taxes
- Median rent: $802, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 43% cap, $2,103 total minus rent leaves $1,301
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Franklin County's.
Local borrowing considerations for Franklin County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Franklin County borrowers.
- Vehicle repairs. 18% of Franklin County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Retirees. At a median age of 46.1, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Franklin County borrower sees (free reports).
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Franklin County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Franklin County-area credit union.
- Verify the Maine license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Verifying a lender from Franklin County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Franklin County, check the Maine Bureau of Financial Institutions. Consumer lending in Maine is also overseen by the Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection. If a Franklin County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. Statewide data and rules: Maine guide.
Beyond Franklin County
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Franklin County earn?
The median is $58,675; 27% earn $100,000 or more and 29% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Franklin County?
$802 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
How many towns are in Franklin County?
The Census Bureau counts 21 places mainly in the county, led by Farmington, Jay, Wilton, New Sharon, Chesterville.
Does living in Franklin County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Franklin County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
How do I know a lender is legitimate in Franklin County?
Look it up with the Maine Bureau of Financial Institutions, read the written offer, and refuse any fee before funding.