Compare towns
Exeter vs Hancock vs Sullivan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).
Sullivan has the most kids (18% 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 | Exeter | Hancock | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,093Lowest |
2,518Highest |
1,246 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME |
47.1±15Lowest 5% above ME |
| Hancock and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sullivan and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±7Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Hancock and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$72,285±$5k 3% below ME |
$59,643±$14kLowest 20% below ME |
| Exeter and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$276,800±$51kHighest 7% below ME |
$222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
| Hancock and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386 13% below ME |
$1,171±$65Highest about the ME average |
$883±$114Lowest 22% below ME |
| Hancock and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,869 38% below ME |
$2,228Highest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42%±15.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Hancock and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.2% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 43% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sullivan and Exeter 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 | — | Hancock Public Schools | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.