Compare towns

Hancock vs Dresden vs Phippsburg

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).
Dresden has the most kids (17% under 18).
Phippsburg has the most people working from home (11.7%).

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.

MeasureHancockDresdenPhippsburg
People
Population
2,518Highest
1,645Lowest
2,238
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%
ME: +2.6%
+3.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-2.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
56.3±6.4Highest
26% above ME
55.1±7.9
23% above ME
54.3±6.3Lowest
21% above ME
Hancock and Dresden 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%
17%±3.4Highest
ME: 18.1%
11.5%±3.1Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Dresden and Hancock 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%
24.8%±8Lowest
ME: 22.4%
34.4%±3.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
Phippsburg 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%
ME: 36.2%
30.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
37.7%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.1
ME: 5.8%
3%±1.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.3%±1.6Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Dresden 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±$5kLowest
3% below ME
$74,844±$22k
about the ME average
$107,833±$19kHighest
44% above ME
Phippsburg and Dresden 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
$240,100±$29kLowest
19% below ME
$335,800±$47kHighest
13% above ME
Phippsburg and Hancock 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
$1,194±$502Highest
5% above ME
$1,022±$346Lowest
10% below ME
Dresden 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
$2,500Highest
18% below ME
$2,034
33% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42%±15.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
13.2%±26Lowest
ME: 48.4%
35.5%±98.7
ME: 48.4%
Hancock and Phippsburg 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%
9.3%Highest
ME: 10.7%
7.5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
88.2%Highest
ME: 74.3%
81.8%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
10 yrs newer than ME
1985
8 yrs newer than ME
1984Lowest
7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
18% above ME
33 minHighest
35% above ME
21 minLowest
13% below ME
Work from home
5.1%±4.2Lowest
ME: 15.9%
6.7%±2.8
ME: 15.9%
11.7%±4.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
Phippsburg and Dresden 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 RSU 02 RSU 01 - LKRSU
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.