Compare towns
Hancock vs Mapleton vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Mapleton | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,518 |
1,884Lowest |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±6.4Highest 45% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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±$5kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,800±$51k 17% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,171±$65 17% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,869 40% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±15.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 133 in ME | — | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hancock Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.