Compare towns
Mercer vs Otis 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%).
Otis has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Otis | Perry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 718 |
705Lowest |
744Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
-9.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
45.5±11.4 about the ME average |
| Otis 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% |
16.6%±7.8Lowest 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% |
20.9%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Mercer and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,107±$2kLowest 5% below ME |
$101,250±$27kHighest 35% above ME |
$82,056±$4k 10% above ME |
| Otis and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,500±$32k 20% below ME |
$282,500±$23kHighest 5% below ME |
$196,400±$13kLowest 34% below ME |
| Otis and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$249Lowest 25% above ME |
$1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
— |
| Otis and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,970Lowest 35% below ME |
$2,263 25% below ME |
$3,132Highest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Otis and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
26 minLowest 6% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Otis Public Schools | 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.