Compare towns
China vs Palermo vs Somerville
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).
Palermo has the most people working from home (18.8%).
Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
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 | Palermo | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,526Highest |
1,473 |
837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9 9% below ME |
43.4±6.1Highest 3% below ME |
33.5±11.3Lowest 25% 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%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and China 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% |
21.2%±2 ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9Lowest 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.7% ME: 36.2% |
25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$89,095±$15k 19% above ME |
$71,250±$15kLowest 5% below 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 |
$259,700±$54kHighest 12% below ME |
$218,100±$41kLowest 26% 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 | — | $1,235±$1kLowest 8% above ME |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
| Somerville 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 |
$2,505Lowest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
85.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and China 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 | RSU 12 |
| 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 |
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.