Compare towns
Hancock vs Sullivan vs Unity 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).
Sullivan has the most kids (18% under 18).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Phippsburg has the highest household income ($108k).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Sullivan | Unity | Phippsburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,518Highest |
1,246Lowest |
1,858 |
2,238 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME |
47.1±15 5% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% 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% |
18%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Sullivan and Unity 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% |
22.5%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest 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% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
37.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,285±$5k 3% below ME |
$59,643±$14kLowest 20% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$107,833±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,800±$51k 7% below ME |
$222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
$206,900±$28kLowest 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 |
$883±$114 22% below ME |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,022±$346 10% below ME |
| Hancock and Phippsburg 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 |
$2,228 27% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$2,034 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±15.5 ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
35.5%±98.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Unity 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% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% ME: 74.3% |
85.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
21 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Sullivan 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 24 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| High school in town | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.5Lowest |
12.4Highest |
— |
| 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.