Compare towns

Hancock vs Thomaston 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 highest household income ($72k).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Franklin has the most people working from home (12.2%).

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.

MeasureHancockThomastonFranklin
People
Population
2,518
2,769Highest
1,628Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%
ME: +2.6%
-1.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+5.7%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
56.3±6.4
26% above ME
58.1±6.6Highest
30% above ME
46±9.3Lowest
about the ME average
Thomaston and Hancock 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%
19.2%±5.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
16.3%±3.9
ME: 18.1%
Thomaston and Franklin 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%
35.5%±8.6Highest
ME: 22.4%
25.6%±3.5Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Thomaston 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%Highest
ME: 36.2%
30.9%
ME: 36.2%
28.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.1
ME: 5.8%
1.6%±1.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
Franklin 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±$5kHighest
3% below ME
$56,435±$13kLowest
24% below ME
$65,455±$16k
12% below ME
Hancock and Franklin 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
$271,700±$10k
8% below ME
$245,800±$59kLowest
17% below ME
Hancock and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,171±$65
about the ME average
$1,262±$343Highest
11% above ME
$888±$306Lowest
22% below ME
Thomaston 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
$4,487Highest
48% above ME
$2,231
27% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42%±15.5
ME: 48.4%
60.5%±23.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
36.7%±27.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Thomaston 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%
6.6%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
15.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
73.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
76.8%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
10 yrs newer than ME
1951Lowest
26 yrs older than ME
1984
7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
18% above ME
14 minLowest
45% below ME
29 minHighest
18% above ME
Work from home
5.1%±4.2
ME: 15.9%
4.4%±3.9Lowest
ME: 15.9%
12.2%±5.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
Franklin 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 #99 of 133 in ME —
School district Hancock Public Schools RSU 13 —
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.