Compare towns
Hancock vs Mapleton vs Waldo vs Phippsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Waldo has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Phippsburg has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
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 | Waldo | Phippsburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,518Highest |
1,884 |
926Lowest |
2,238 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
54.3±6.3 21% above ME |
| Hancock and Phippsburg 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% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Waldo 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%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Phippsburg 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
37.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6 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 |
$71,458±$21kLowest 4% below ME |
$107,833±$19kHighest 44% above 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 |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
$335,800±$47kHighest 13% above 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±$65Highest about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$1,022±$346 10% below ME |
| Hancock and Waldo 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,034Highest 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±15.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
35.5%±98.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo 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% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
21 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Phippsburg 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Hancock Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Waldo-Region 7 | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| 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 |
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.