Compare towns
Liberty vs Smithfield 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 most kids (19.4% under 18).
Smithfield has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Palermo has the most expensive homes ($260k 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 | Liberty | Smithfield | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 969 |
856Lowest |
1,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Liberty and Palermo 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% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.7% ME: 36.2% |
31.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Palermo and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,146±$15kLowest 5% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$89,095±$15k 19% above ME |
| Smithfield and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,600±$31kLowest 23% below ME |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
$259,700±$54kHighest 12% below ME |
| Palermo and Smithfield 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 |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
$1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
| Palermo and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,434Lowest 20% below ME |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
$2,506 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±42.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Palermo and Smithfield 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% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 56% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
31 minLowest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.4%±8.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — | RSU 12 |
| High school 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.