Compare towns
Hancock vs Mapleton vs Mars Hill vs Thomaston
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%).
Mapleton has the most people working from home (10.8%).
Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,518 |
1,884 |
1,398Lowest |
2,769Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.3±6.4 26% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43.4±3 3% below ME |
58.1±6.6Highest 30% 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%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±5.7 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%±7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
35.5%±8.6Highest 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Mars Hill 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±$9k 13% below ME |
$56,435±$13kLowest 24% below ME |
| Mapleton 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±$51kHighest 7% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
$271,700±$10k 8% 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 |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,262±$343Highest 11% above ME |
| Thomaston and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,869 38% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,843 39% below ME |
$4,487Highest 48% above 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% |
60.5%±23.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Thomaston and Hancock 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
73.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1967 10 yrs older than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
14 minLowest 45% below 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% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest 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 | — | — | #99 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hancock Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | RSU 13 |
| 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.