Compare towns
Hancock vs Waldo 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).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Waldo | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,518Highest |
926Lowest |
1,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
46±9.3 about the ME average |
| Hancock and Franklin 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% |
20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo 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% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Hancock and Franklin 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% |
36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest 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 |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
$65,455±$16kLowest 12% below ME |
| Hancock and Waldo 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 |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
$245,800±$59k 17% below ME |
| Hancock and Franklin 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 |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$888±$306Lowest 22% below ME |
| Hancock and Waldo 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 |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,231Highest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±15.5 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.8%Lowest 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 minHighest 18% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Franklin 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 | Waldo-Region 7 | — |
| 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.