Compare towns
Franklin vs Unity vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
Bordering FranklinSullivan
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Franklin | Unity | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628Lowest |
1,858 |
2,518Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3 about the ME average |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME |
| Hancock and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Franklin and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Hancock and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,455±$16k 12% below ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$72,285±$5kHighest 3% below ME |
| Hancock and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$59k 17% below ME |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$276,800±$51kHighest 7% below ME |
| Hancock and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306 22% below ME |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,171±$65Highest about the ME average |
| Hancock and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,231 27% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,869Lowest 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
42%±15.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Unity and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.7% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Franklin 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 | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Hancock Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.