Compare towns
Thomaston vs Ellsworth 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).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Hancock has the most homeowners (81.1%).
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 | Ellsworth | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,769 |
8,657Highest |
2,518Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
43±2.4Lowest 4% 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%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Thomaston and Ellsworth 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% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest 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% |
39.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,435±$13kLowest 24% below ME |
$77,375±$18kHighest 4% above ME |
$72,285±$5k 3% below ME |
| Ellsworth 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 |
$242,300±$22kLowest 18% 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 |
$1,017±$195Lowest 11% 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 |
$3,262 7% above ME |
$1,869Lowest 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±23.5 ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
42%±15.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth 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% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.9% ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Ellsworth 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 | #99 of 133 in ME | #63 of 133 in ME | #117 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 13 | Ellsworth Public Schools | Hancock Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.