Compare towns
Hancock vs Mapleton vs Phippsburg 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 affordable homes ($192k median).
Phippsburg has the most expensive homes ($336k 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 | Phippsburg | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,518 |
1,884Lowest |
2,238 |
2,769Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.8% ME: +2.6% |
-1.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.3±6.4 26% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
54.3±6.3 21% above 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%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Thomaston 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% |
34.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Thomaston and Phippsburg 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
37.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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±$5k 3% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$107,833±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$56,435±$13kLowest 24% below ME |
| Phippsburg and Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$335,800±$47kHighest 13% above ME |
$271,700±$10k 8% below 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,022±$346 10% 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 |
$2,034 33% 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% |
35.5%±98.7 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1984 7 yrs newer 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 13% below ME |
14 minLowest 45% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Phippsburg and Mapleton 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 01 - LKRSU | RSU 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.