What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has the highest household income ($72k).

Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hancock	Appleton
People
Population	2,518Highest	1,360Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME	49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME
	Hancock and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	15.3%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Appleton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.2%±7Highest ME: 22.4%	26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Hancock and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.7%±2.4Highest 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	$72,285±$5kHighest 3% below ME	$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME
	Hancock and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$276,800±$51kHighest 7% below ME	$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME
	Hancock and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,171±$65Highest about the ME average	$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME
	Hancock and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,869Lowest 38% below ME	$3,588Highest 18% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±15.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	85.4%±100Highest 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	8.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	82.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 18% above ME	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	11.1%±3.5Highest 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	—
School district	Hancock Public Schools	Appleton Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.