Compare towns
Appleton vs Jackson vs Palermo vs Searsmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Palermo has the most people working from home (18.8%).
Searsmont has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Appleton | Jackson | Palermo | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
567Lowest |
1,473 |
1,646Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
+0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
44.5±9.8 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Palermo and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2 ME: 22.4% |
21%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.7% ME: 36.2% |
31.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$89,095±$15kHighest 19% above ME |
$87,000±$20k 16% above ME |
| Palermo and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$231,500±$16kLowest 22% below ME |
$259,700±$54k 12% below ME |
$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME |
| Searsmont and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
$940±$311 17% below ME |
| Palermo and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$2,506Lowest 17% below ME |
$2,788 8% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±10.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 12 | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.