Hancock is a quiet, coastal town with views of Mount Desert Island
Hancock is a coastal town in Downeast Maine. While most of the town sits on the mainland, Hancock Point juts into Frenchman Bay toward Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park. Home to fewer than 2,500 people, the community maintains a sense of coastal calm along U.S. Route 1. “It’s that fine balance of rural Maine, small-town feel, but it’s not too far to get to the bigger cities and things of that nature,” says Kyle McGeechan, a Realtor with Two Rivers Realty and a Hancock County native. Although bigger cities like Ellsworth are within reach, Hancock stays true to the slower pace and community-oriented feel that grounds Downeast Maine. “Maine people are just really great, down-to-earth people. That’s one great thing about Maine. As long as you’re a nice person, everybody will be nice to you,” McGeechan says.
Exploring Carter’s Beach, nature preserves and Acadia National Park
Carter’s Beach is a sandy shoreline on Hancock Point where residents can swim, sunbathe and explore tidal pools. Conservation areas like Tidal Falls Preserve, Salt Pond Preserve and Kilkenny Cove Preserve offer miles of nature trails for hiking and wildlife watching throughout town. The nearly 90-mile Down East Sunrise Trail also passes through Hancock and is open to walkers, bikers, ATV riders and snowmobilers. Hancock Point Library and houses of worship like Hancock Church of Christ offer community programming for all ages.
A 20-mile drive takes residents to Bar Harbor and the 47,000-acre Acadia National Park. “There’s a lot to do if you’re looking for the coastal Maine experience. You have your local cruises and whale watching events, and Acadia National Park has some great hikes and views,” McGeechan says. The park is open year-round and offers hiking, biking, boating, fishing and swimming on the Atlantic Coast. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are popular winter activities, with an annual average of more than 3 feet of snow.
From ranch-style homes to 19th-century cottages on Hancock Point
Quiet roads branch off the town’s main thoroughfares and feature a mix of Cape Cod, ranch-style and farmhouse-inspired homes. Spacious tree-lined lots offer privacy, with the median lot size just over an acre. A few coastal cottages and custom-built properties are scattered throughout town. Hancock Point is known for its 19th-century cottages and farmhouses, with waterfront properties attracting year-round and seasonal residents, though they rarely come on the market. “Recently, you’re seeing a lot more of the vacation home and rental properties in that area. There’s a very high demand specifically in the summer and fall,” McGeechan says. Prices typically range from $170,000 to $500,000, though larger houses and waterfront homes can sell for $620,000 to $930,000. The median sales price for single-family homes falls just below $440,000. Hancock's overall CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, well below the national average of 4.
Family owned shops and seafood spots, with more options in Ellsworth
Most shops and restaurants are on the U.S. Route 1 corridor. “There are a couple of small, little mom-and-pop type deals around the area,” McGeechan says. Simons Hancock Farms & Greenhouses sells fresh produce, while Shirley’s Yarns & Crafts stocks knitting supplies and Maine-made goods. Hancock Grocery is a one-stop shop for gas, groceries and deli sandwiches. Ellsworth, about 10 miles away, has bigger retailers like Walmart, Home Depot and Hannaford.
The dining scene includes casual spots like Yu Takeout, which serves seafood baskets from its walk-up window through summer and fall. Chipper’s Restaurant serves haddock chowder and flame-grilled steaks in a white-tablecloth atmosphere, while Ironbound Restaurant & Inn features an oyster bar with fresh catches from Frenchman Bay. An 11-foot-long lobster stands proudly outside Ruth & Wimpy’s Restaurant, serving more than 30 lobster dishes. On Hancock Point, the Crocker House Country Inn is a bed-and-breakfast where visitors and locals alike can enjoy fine dining.
Kids attend Hancock Grammar School and a high school of their choice
Hancock Grammar School serves prekindergarten through eighth grade and earns a C from Niche. With fewer than 200 students, it has a lower-than-average student-to-teacher ratio of 8-to-1. It also functions as a community gathering place, hosting events like an annual spring carnival. Since the town doesn’t have a high school, it pays tuition for students in ninth through 12th grade to attend a nearby public or private school of their choice. Ellsworth High School is a common option that scores a C-plus and boasts an award-winning cheerleading team that won its third-straight state championship in 2025. “There’s a lot of local pride for the sports teams. It’s not just parents and family members attending the sporting events; it’s a lot of community members getting involved and taking it all in,” McGeechan says.
Monteux School and Music Festival hosts weekly concerts each summer
Hancock is home to the Monteux School and Music Festival, a six-week-long summer orchestra program that holds two weekly concert series: Monteux Festival Orchestra and ‘Mainely’ Chamber Music. Performances are held in the school’s Forest Studio, where residents can enjoy live classical music from mid-June through July.
U.S. Route 1 offers access to the Schoodic Peninsula, Bangor and more
Residents live in a car-dependent area with few sidewalks and no public transportation. U.S. Route 1 is Hancock’s main road, running parallel to the coast and carrying traffic north and south throughout the state. It also serves as the gateway to the Schoodic National Scenic Byway, a 29-mile route with views of the Schoodic Peninsula. Bangor is about 40 miles northwest, where residents can catch flights at Bangor International Airport. Hancock County–Bar Harbor Airport is about 15 miles from town and offers limited service to Boston through Cape Air. Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital is less than 10 miles away.
![Sally Stimpson]()
Written By
Sally Stimpson
