What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has the most people working from home (7.5%).

Panama has the most affordable homes ($105k median).

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	Panama
People
Population	745Highest	451Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.9% NY: +4.2%	—
Median age	52.5±8.7Highest 32% above NY	46.6±6.9Lowest 17% above NY
	Hancock and Panama are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5%	12.4%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Hancock and Panama are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.2%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9%	23.3%±6.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Hancock and Panama are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	19.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±3.8 NY: 7%	4.7%±2.8 NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$51,765±$9kLowest 40% below NY	$60,865±$8kHighest 29% below NY
	Panama and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$150,000±$34kHighest 65% below NY	$105,400±$14kLowest 75% below NY
	Hancock and Panama are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$958±$181Highest 41% below NY	$785±$43Lowest 52% below NY
	Hancock and Panama are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,756Highest 43% below NY	$2,500Lowest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.7%±22.1Highest NY: 52.1%	41.9%±24.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Hancock and Panama are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.6%Highest NY: 14%	12.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	55.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 25% below NY	24 minLowest 27% below NY
Work from home	7.5%±7.5Highest NY: 14.9%	4.9%±2.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Hancock and Panama 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	#471 of 484 in NY	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.