Compare towns
China vs Jackson vs Palermo
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 most kids (20.4% under 18).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Palermo has the most people working from home (18.8%).
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 | Jackson | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,526Highest |
567Lowest |
1,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9 9% below ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
43.4±6.1Highest 3% below ME |
| Palermo and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| China and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| China and Palermo 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% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Highest 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 |
$75,167±$19kLowest about the ME average |
$89,095±$15k 19% 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 |
$231,500±$16kLowest 22% below ME |
$259,700±$54kHighest 12% below ME |
| Palermo and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
| Palermo and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535 17% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$2,506Lowest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Palermo and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 21% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and Jackson 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 18 | — | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.