Compare towns
Thomaston vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($277k 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.
| Measure | Thomaston | Appleton | Mapleton | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,769Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
2,518 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
56.3±6.4 26% above ME |
| Thomaston and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±7 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+ | 30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,435±$13k 24% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$72,285±$5k 3% below ME |
| Mapleton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,700±$10k 8% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$276,800±$51kHighest 7% 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 | $1,262±$343Highest 11% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,171±$65 about the ME average |
| Thomaston and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,487Highest 48% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,869 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±23.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42%±15.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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 | #99 of 133 in ME | — | — | #117 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 13 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Hancock Public Schools |
| 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.