What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has the oldest population (median age 56.3).

Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hancock	Sidney
People
Population	2,518Lowest	4,790Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME	43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME
Kids under 18	13.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Sidney and Hancock 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%	18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	33.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Hancock and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,285±$5kLowest 3% below ME	$83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME
	Sidney 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±$51kLowest 7% below ME	$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME
	Sidney and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,171±$65Lowest about the ME average	$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME
	Sidney and Hancock 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	$2,474Highest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±15.5Highest ME: 48.4%	16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Hancock and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.4%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 18% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Sidney and Hancock 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	#15 of 133 in ME
School district	Hancock Public Schools	RSU 18
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.