Compare towns
Hancock vs Appleton vs Sullivan vs Bar Harbor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Sullivan has the most kids (18% under 18).
Bar Harbor has the most expensive homes ($538k median).
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 | Hancock | Appleton | Sullivan | Bar Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,518 |
1,360 |
1,246Lowest |
5,244Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
47.1±15Lowest 5% above ME |
49.2±5.9 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%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.9%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Sullivan and Appleton 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%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
68.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4 ME: 5.8% |
10.8%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Bar Harbor and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,285±$5k 3% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$59,643±$14k 20% below ME |
$77,180±$26kHighest 3% above ME |
| Bar Harbor and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,800±$51k 7% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$222,000±$33kLowest 25% below ME |
$538,400±$94kHighest 82% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,171±$65Highest about the ME average |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$883±$114Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,106±$351 about the ME average |
| Hancock and Bar Harbor 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 |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$2,228 27% below ME |
$4,279Highest 41% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±15.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.6%±17.6 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% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Bar Harbor and Sullivan 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 | — | — | #2 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hancock Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 24 | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School | Mt Desert Island High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.5Highest |
8.2Lowest |
| 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.