Compare towns

Chapman vs Palmyra vs Starks

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chapman has the highest household income ($93k).
Palmyra has the most people working from home (7.5%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).

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.

MeasureChapmanPalmyraStarks
People
Population
388Lowest
2,209Highest
556
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.1%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-7.3%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
45.7±11.4
about the ME average
37.1±4.8Lowest
17% below ME
46.7±9.4Highest
4% above ME
Starks and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
27.6%±5.9
ME: 18.1%
29.2%±5.8Highest
ME: 18.1%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Palmyra and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.6%±3.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
16.7%±5.3Lowest
ME: 22.4%
20.3%±2.2
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
13.8%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
21%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
4%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
0.9%±2.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Chapman and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,125±$17kHighest
25% above ME
$60,543±$17kLowest
19% below ME
$63,500±$8k
15% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$185,700±$22kHighest
37% below ME
$154,900±$34k
48% below ME
$148,500±$27kLowest
50% below ME
Chapman and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$733±$119Lowest
36% below ME
$1,063±$301Highest
7% below ME
Starks and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,850Highest
39% below ME
$1,614
47% below ME
$1,348Lowest
56% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
47.2%±14.9Highest
ME: 48.4%
45.5%±90.3
ME: 48.4%
Palmyra and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
9.1%
ME: 10.7%
19.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
82.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
90%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
5 yrs newer than ME
1994Highest
17 yrs newer than ME
1988
11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
6% below ME
21 minLowest
14% below ME
33 minHighest
33% above ME
Work from home
4.8%±3.5
ME: 15.9%
7.5%±4.1Highest
ME: 15.9%
3.3%±2.4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Palmyra and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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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.