Compare towns
Hancock vs Mapleton vs West Paris
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 kids (22.2% under 18).
West Paris has the most people working from home (23.8%).
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 | West Paris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,518Highest |
1,884 |
1,808Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
46±7.9 about the ME average |
| Hancock and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Hancock and West Paris 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 ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
23.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest 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±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$56,324±$5kLowest 25% below ME |
| Mapleton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,800±$51kHighest 7% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$193,000±$20k 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,171±$65Highest about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$838±$333 26% below ME |
| Hancock and West Paris 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 |
$2,083Highest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±15.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.5%±34.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| West Paris and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
24.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
23.8%±18.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| West Paris 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 | — | — |
| School district | Hancock Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.