Compare towns
Liberty vs Danforth vs Waldo vs Palermo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Liberty has the oldest housing (typical home built 1981).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Waldo has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Palermo has the highest household income ($89k).
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 | Liberty | Danforth | Waldo | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 969 |
666Lowest |
926 |
1,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.5±6.8 10% below ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
| Danforth and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
31.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Palermo and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
$89,095±$15kHighest 19% above ME |
| Palermo and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,600±$31k 23% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
$259,700±$54kHighest 12% below ME |
| Palermo and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
$629±$29 45% below ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
| Palermo and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,434 20% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,623 47% below ME |
$2,506Highest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 56% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — | Waldo-Region 7 | 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 | 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.