Compare towns
Thomaston vs Palmyra 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).
Palmyra has the most kids (29.2% under 18).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).
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 | Palmyra | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,769Highest |
2,209Lowest |
2,518 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% ME: +2.6% |
-3.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
37.1±4.8Lowest 17% 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% |
29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Palmyra 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% |
16.7%±5.3Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Palmyra 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 |
$60,543±$17k 19% below ME |
$72,285±$5kHighest 3% below ME |
| Hancock and Palmyra 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 |
$154,900±$34kLowest 48% 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 |
$733±$119Lowest 36% 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 |
$1,614Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,869 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±23.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
47.2%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
42%±15.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Thomaston and Palmyra 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% |
9.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Palmyra 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 | — | #117 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 13 | — | Hancock Public Schools |
| 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.