Compare towns
Appleton vs Hancock vs Thomaston
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 highest household income ($72k).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,518 |
2,769Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
-1.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
56.3±6.4 26% above ME |
58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
| Thomaston and Hancock 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%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Thomaston and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±7 ME: 22.4% |
35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Thomaston 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Hancock 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±$5kHighest 3% below ME |
$56,435±$13k 24% below ME |
| Hancock and Thomaston 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±$51kHighest 7% below ME |
$271,700±$10k 8% below ME |
| Hancock and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,171±$65 about the ME average |
$1,262±$343Highest 11% above ME |
| Thomaston and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$1,869Lowest 38% below ME |
$4,487Highest 48% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42%±15.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±23.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.2% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.1% ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
14 minLowest 45% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Hancock 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 | #99 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Hancock Public Schools | RSU 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.