Compare towns
Hancock vs Mapleton vs Pelham vs Thomaston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Pelham | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,518 |
1,884Lowest |
14,449Highest |
2,769 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±6.4 45% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58.1±6.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.7 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%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.5%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest 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±$5k 10% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$56,435±$13kLowest 30% below 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. |
$271,700±$10k 18% below 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 |
$1,262±$343 11% below U.S. |
| Pelham and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,869 40% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$4,487 44% 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% |
60.5%±23.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Thomaston 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% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 133 in ME | — | #48 of 120 in NH | #99 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hancock Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Pelham School District | RSU 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.