Compare towns
Hancock vs Appleton vs Thomaston vs Harrison
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 highest household income ($72k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Harrison has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Thomaston | Harrison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,518 |
1,360Lowest |
2,769Highest |
2,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.5% ME: +2.6% |
-10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.3±6.4 26% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
56±3.6 25% 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 | 13.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
9.1%±3Lowest 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+ | 30.2%±7 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.8%±7.6 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+ | 34.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.5 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 |
$56,435±$13k 24% below ME |
$56,938±$6k 24% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,800±$51kHighest 7% below ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$271,700±$10k 8% below ME |
$249,300±$70k 16% 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 | $1,171±$65 about the ME average |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,262±$343Highest 11% above ME |
$885±$193Lowest 22% below ME |
| Thomaston and Hancock 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 |
$4,487Highest 48% above ME |
$2,731 10% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±15.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±23.5 ME: 48.4% |
27.5%±24.4Lowest 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 | 8.2% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
14 minLowest 45% below ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.3%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Harrison and Appleton 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 | Hancock Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 13 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.