Compare towns
Jackson vs Palermo vs Orland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Palermo has the highest household income ($89k).
Orland has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Jackson | Palermo | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,473 |
1,915Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
| Orland and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Palermo and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2 ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.7% ME: 36.2% |
31.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Orland and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$89,095±$15kHighest 19% above ME |
$69,348±$29kLowest 7% below ME |
| Palermo and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,500±$16kLowest 22% below ME |
$259,700±$54k 12% below ME |
$277,100±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
| Orland and Palermo 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 |
$1,149±$177 about the ME average |
| Palermo and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$2,506 17% below ME |
$2,089Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Palermo and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
31 minLowest 24% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 12 | — |
| High school 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.