Compare towns
Hancock vs Beals vs Sullivan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).
Beals has the most people working from home (17.6%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Beals | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,518Highest |
498Lowest |
1,246 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME |
48±15.6 7% above ME |
47.1±15Lowest 5% above ME |
| Hancock and Beals 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% |
16.1%±6.5 ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sullivan and Beals 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% |
30.1%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Hancock and Beals 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% |
37.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4 ME: 5.8% |
| Beals 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±$5kHighest 3% below ME |
$64,063±$14k 14% below ME |
$59,643±$14kLowest 20% below ME |
| Hancock and Beals 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 |
$256,700±$45k 13% below ME |
$222,000±$33kLowest 25% below ME |
| Hancock and Beals 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 |
$907±$378 20% below ME |
$883±$114Lowest 22% below ME |
| Hancock and Beals 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 |
$2,580Highest 15% below ME |
$2,228 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±15.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest 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 | 8.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Beals 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 | — | — |
| School district | Hancock Public Schools | Beals Public Schools | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | None 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.