Compare towns
Appleton vs Hancock vs Phippsburg vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Phippsburg has the highest household income ($108k).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Appleton | Hancock | Phippsburg | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,518 |
2,238 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME |
54.3±6.3 21% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Hancock and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±7 ME: 22.4% |
34.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Phippsburg and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.9% ME: 36.2% |
37.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$72,285±$5k 3% below ME |
$107,833±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Phippsburg and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$276,800±$51k 7% below ME |
$335,800±$47kHighest 13% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Phippsburg and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,171±$65 about the ME average |
$1,022±$346Lowest 10% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,869Lowest 38% below ME |
$2,034 33% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42%±15.5 ME: 48.4% |
35.5%±98.7 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.2% ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.8% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Phippsburg 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 | — | #117 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Hancock Public Schools | RSU 01 - LKRSU | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.