What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chesterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).

Palmyra has the most affordable homes ($155k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chesterville	Palmyra
People
Population	1,397Lowest	2,209Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.8±4Highest 16% below ME	37.1±4.8Lowest 17% below ME
	Chesterville and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1%	29.2%±5.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Chesterville and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%	16.7%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Palmyra and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.4%Highest ME: 36.2%	13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%	4%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Palmyra and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,635±$10kHighest 18% below ME	$60,543±$17kLowest 19% below ME
	Chesterville and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$214,000±$40kHighest 28% below ME	$154,900±$34kLowest 48% below ME
	Chesterville and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME	$733±$119Lowest 36% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,194Highest 28% below ME	$1,614Lowest 47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	47.2%±14.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Palmyra and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME	1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	7.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	7.5%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9%
	Palmyra and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.