Compare towns
Jackson vs Palermo vs Strong
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).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k 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 | Jackson | Palermo | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,473Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
47.5±8.9Highest 6% above ME |
| Strong and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Palermo 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% |
22%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Strong and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.7% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Palermo and Strong 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 |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% 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±$16k 22% below ME |
$259,700±$54kHighest 12% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Palermo and Jackson 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 |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
| Palermo and Strong 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 |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Palermo and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.8% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
31 minLowest 24% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 12 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.