What stands out worked out from the figures below

Palermo has the most affordable homes ($260k median).

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

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	Palermo	Durham
People
Population	1,473Lowest	4,262Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.4±6.1Highest 3% below ME	42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME
	Palermo and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.7%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Durham and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.2%±2Highest ME: 22.4%	16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Palermo and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Durham 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±$15kLowest 19% above ME	$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME
	Durham 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±$54kLowest 12% below ME	$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME
	Durham and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,235±$1k 8% above ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,506Lowest 17% below ME	$3,781Highest 25% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Palermo and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95.4%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 24% above ME	28 minLowest 13% above ME
Work from home	18.8%±10.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Durham and Palermo 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	—	#14 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 12	RSU 05
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.