Compare towns
Hancock vs Mapleton vs Mars Hill vs Pittston
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).
Mapleton has the most people working from home (10.8%).
Mars Hill has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Pittston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
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 | Mapleton | Mars Hill | Pittston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,518 |
1,884 |
1,398Lowest |
3,093Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
43.4±3 3% below ME |
41.4±5.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±7.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±6.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Hancock and Mars Hill 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±4.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Pittston and Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$65,273±$9kLowest 13% below ME |
$86,614±$18k 16% above ME |
| Mapleton and Pittston 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
$238,700±$66k 20% below ME |
| Hancock and Pittston 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 |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,080±$593 5% below ME |
| Hancock and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,869 38% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,843 39% below ME |
$1,909Highest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±15.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
57.6%±34.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Pittston 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Mars Hill 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 | — | — | #123 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hancock Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.