Compare towns
Palermo vs Durham vs Somerville
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 oldest population (median age 43.4).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($322k median).
Somerville has the most kids (28.8% 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 | Palermo | Durham | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,473 |
4,262Highest |
837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±6.1Highest 3% below ME |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
33.5±11.3Lowest 25% 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%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Durham 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%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7Lowest 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±$15k 19% above ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$71,250±$15kLowest 5% below 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±$54k 12% below ME |
$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$218,100±$41kLowest 26% below 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±$1kLowest 8% above ME |
— | $1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
| Somerville and Palermo 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 |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$2,505Lowest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 24% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.8%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest 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 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.