Compare towns
Hancock vs Readfield vs Wayne vs Franklin
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).
Readfield has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Readfield | Wayne | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,518 |
2,651Highest |
1,101Lowest |
1,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
46±9.3Lowest about the ME average |
| Hancock and Wayne 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% |
18.7%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Readfield and Franklin 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% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Hancock and Wayne 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Franklin 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 |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$65,455±$16kLowest 12% below ME |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$245,800±$59kLowest 17% below ME |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$888±$306Lowest 22% below ME |
| Hancock and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,869Lowest 38% below ME |
$3,392Highest 12% above ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$2,231 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±15.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Hancock and Franklin 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% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Hancock Public Schools | RSU 38 | RSU 38 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— | — |
| 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.