Compare towns
Hancock vs Mapleton vs Unity 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
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
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 | Unity | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,518 |
1,884 |
1,375Lowest |
2,769Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±6.4 45% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5 49% above U.S. |
58.1±6.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Thomaston and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.5%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thomaston and Unity 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 10% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$56,435±$13kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,800±$51kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$271,700±$10k 18% below U.S. |
| Hancock and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,171±$65 17% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,262±$343 11% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% 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% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.5%±23.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%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% |
94.5%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. |
1982 2 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. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mapleton and Unity 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 | Unity School District | RSU 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.