Compare towns
Palermo vs Appleton vs Monroe vs Edgecomb
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Palermo has the most people working from home (18.8%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Edgecomb has the most expensive homes ($348k 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 | Palermo | Appleton | Monroe | Edgecomb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,473Highest |
1,360 |
1,001Lowest |
1,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
-4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
41±8.8Lowest 8% below ME |
| Appleton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.9%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±7.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
29.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
39.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
8%±6.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Edgecomb and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,095±$15k 19% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
$108,750±$18kHighest 46% above ME |
| Edgecomb and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $259,700±$54k 12% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$220,300±$57kLowest 26% below ME |
$348,400±$36kHighest 17% above ME |
| Edgecomb and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,165±$152 about the ME average |
— |
| Palermo and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,506 17% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,207Lowest 27% below ME |
$3,577 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±43.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
11.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
90.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 24% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 28% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 12 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Edgecomb Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.