Compare towns
Palermo vs Appleton vs Washington
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 highest household income ($89k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($195k 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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,473 |
1,360Lowest |
1,624Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±6.1Lowest 3% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Palermo and Appleton 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% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Washington 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,095±$15kHighest 19% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$59,861±$17k 20% below ME |
| Palermo and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $259,700±$54kHighest 12% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$195,200±$36kLowest 34% below ME |
| Palermo and Appleton 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±$82 3% below ME |
$1,036±$322Lowest 9% below ME |
| Palermo and Appleton 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 |
$2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8Lowest 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% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 24% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and Washington 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 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None 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.