Compare towns
Phippsburg vs Appleton vs Hancock vs Owls Head
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Phippsburg has the highest household income ($108k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Owls Head has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Phippsburg | Appleton | Hancock | Owls Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,238 |
1,360Lowest |
2,518Highest |
1,482 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.3±6.3 21% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME |
52.6±6.6 17% 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 | 11.5%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
13.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Appleton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±7 ME: 22.4% |
31.9%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Phippsburg and Owls Head are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.9% ME: 36.2% |
39.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Owls Head are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,833±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$72,285±$5k 3% below ME |
$87,325±$7k 17% above ME |
| Phippsburg and Owls Head are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,800±$47k 13% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$276,800±$51k 7% below ME |
$413,300±$43kHighest 39% above ME |
| Owls Head and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,022±$346Lowest 10% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,171±$65 about the ME average |
$1,191±$386Highest 5% above ME |
| Owls Head and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,034 33% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,869Lowest 38% below ME |
$2,981 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.5%±98.7 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42%±15.5 ME: 48.4% |
29.9%±51.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.2% ME: 10.7% |
5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 13% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
16 minLowest 34% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.7%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.3%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Owls Head and Phippsburg 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 | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Appleton Public Schools | Hancock Public Schools | RSU 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.