Compare towns
China vs Danforth vs Palermo vs Sidney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
China has the highest household income ($96k).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Palermo has the most people working from home (18.8%).
Sidney has the most expensive homes ($336k 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.
| Measure | China | Danforth | Palermo | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,526 |
452Lowest |
1,473 |
4,790Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +2.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
| Danforth and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.7% ME: 36.2% |
33.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Palermo and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,309±$12kHighest 29% above ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$89,095±$15k 19% above ME |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
| China and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,000±$37k 19% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$259,700±$54k 12% below ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
| Sidney and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,235±$1k 8% above ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
| Sidney and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535Highest 17% below ME |
— | $2,506 17% below ME |
$2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8 ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Palermo and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #27 of 133 in ME | — | — | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | — | RSU 12 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.