Compare towns
Hancock vs Starks 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Phippsburg has the most people working from home (11.7%).
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 | Starks | Phippsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,518Highest |
556Lowest |
2,238 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME |
46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above 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% |
16.4%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Starks and Hancock 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% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest 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% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
37.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Hancock and Phippsburg 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 |
$63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME |
$107,833±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,800±$51k 7% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% 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 |
$1,063±$301 7% below ME |
$1,022±$346Lowest 10% below ME |
| Hancock and Starks 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 |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$2,034Highest 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±15.5 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
35.5%±98.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Starks 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% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Phippsburg 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 | — | — |
| School district | Hancock Public Schools | — | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.