If your neighbor two doors down has a rooster you should hear it. But what a great opportunity to get to know your neighbors. You share a common interest and you have questions. Talk to them about how they manage theirs and what experiences they have had with hawks or other predators.
Different people have different experiences with hawks. While all hawks pose a risk, certain varieties are more likely to hunt chickens than others. The size of the chicken can make a difference too, especially for the smaller hawks. Some people only have problems certain times of the year when some hawks migrate. In Arkansas I had red-tailed hawks all over but only lost one chicken to a hawk in in ten years, not sure if it was a red-tailed or another variety. Other people's flocks get wiped out fairly quickly. I did have an adult dominant rooster with the flock most of the time, including when that one was taken.
You will get different opinions as to how much a rooster helps with hawk protection or any other predator. Some people have seen their rooster attack a hawk, often on the ground after the hawk has killed another chicken as was trying to eat it, but sometimes before the hen died. My roosters were more likely to try to lead the flock to safety if a threat was observed instead of staying behind to protect their rear as they fled. I think a rooster helps a little, but really not that much. You do not get any guarantees of safety just by having a rooster.
I don't know what you mean by asking if a rooster is mean? Are you talking about the other chickens or you and your family? Some roosters of any breed become human aggressive, some don't. Some may attack anybody, some only certain individuals. You may get attacked only when you wear certain footwear. How much interaction you and your family have with the flock plays a part. Many people have roosters that never become human aggressive, but some do.
If you are talking about being mean to other chickens, a lot depends on what you mean by "mean". A good rooster takes care of all members of his flock, breaks up fights and may even help a broody hen take care of her chicks. Not all roosters are good. A good rooster will mate with hens, sometimes chasing them down if they don't cooperate. Some people see that as him being a brutal oversexed maniac, others see it as a normal part of chicken life. Not all roosters are good, some can be pretty brutal to other chickens. Some hens can be pretty brutal to other chickens. No two roosters or chickens are alike. You and I may have different opinions as to what makes a good rooster. You don't get guarantees of anything regarding the behaviors of living animals, you never know for sure how any one will react in certain circumstances. Our perceptions of good and bad play into it also.
