Compare towns
Palermo vs Unity 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%).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Edgecomb has the most expensive homes ($348k median).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Monroe | Edgecomb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,473 |
1,858Highest |
1,001Lowest |
1,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
-4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
43.5±7Highest about the ME average |
41±8.8 8% below ME |
| Monroe and Palermo 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% |
14%±3.6Lowest 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%±2 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±7.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Edgecomb and Monroe 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% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
39.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
8%±6.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,095±$15k 19% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% 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 |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 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 |
$873±$73Lowest 23% 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 |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$2,207Lowest 27% below ME |
$3,577Highest 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±43.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Palermo and Monroe 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
90.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 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 |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
32 minHighest 28% above ME |
22 min 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 12 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Edgecomb Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.