Compare towns
Danforth vs Palermo vs Union vs Monticello
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Palermo has the most people working from home (18.8%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Monticello has the oldest population (median age 52.7).
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 | Danforth | Palermo | Union | Monticello |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 452Lowest |
1,473 |
2,663Highest |
674 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
52.7±6Highest 18% above ME |
| Monticello and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.8%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
28.2%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Monticello and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Union and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$89,095±$15kHighest 19% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$51,875±$13k 31% below ME |
| Palermo and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$259,700±$54k 12% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$125,800±$36k 58% below ME |
| Union 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±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$833±$434 27% below ME |
| Palermo and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | — | $2,506 17% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,200Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Palermo and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
19.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 12 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| High school 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.