What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

Palermo has the most people working from home (18.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	New Sharon	Palermo
People
Population	1,550Highest	1,473Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.9±8.9Highest about the ME average	43.4±6.1Lowest 3% below ME
	New Sharon and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±4Highest ME: 18.1%	18.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	New Sharon and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.8%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%	21.2%±2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	New Sharon and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	31.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Palermo and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,889±$21kLowest 15% below ME	$89,095±$15kHighest 19% above ME
	Palermo and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$171,200±$21kLowest 42% below ME	$259,700±$54kHighest 12% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$961±$55Lowest 16% below ME	$1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME
	Palermo and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,889Lowest 38% below ME	$2,506Highest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61%±38Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Palermo and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 23% above ME	31 minHighest 24% above ME
Work from home	8.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Palermo and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 09	RSU 12
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.