Compare towns
Mercer vs Norridgewock vs Perry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Norridgewock has the most affordable homes ($152k median).
Perry has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Mercer | Norridgewock | Perry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 718Lowest |
3,288Highest |
744 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.6% ME: +2.6% |
-9.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
50.3±11Highest 12% above ME |
45.5±11.4 about the ME average |
| Norridgewock and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
10.5%±5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.9%±5.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
25%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
21%±6.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Mercer and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Perry and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,107±$2k 5% below ME |
$61,579±$19kLowest 18% below ME |
$82,056±$4kHighest 10% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME |
$151,900±$52kLowest 49% below ME |
$196,400±$13k 34% below ME |
| Mercer and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
$1,063±$588Lowest 7% below ME |
— |
| Mercer and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,970 35% below ME |
$1,462Lowest 52% below ME |
$3,132Highest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±46.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Norridgewock and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% ME: 10.7% |
20.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
26 min 6% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.5%±8.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.3%±13.6 ME: 15.9% |
23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Perry and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #91 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 54/MSAD 54 | Perry Public Schools |
| 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.