Compare towns
Palermo vs Washington vs Monroe
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%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($195k median).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Washington | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,473 |
1,624Highest |
1,001Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±6.1Lowest 3% below ME |
48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
| Washington 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% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest 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% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Monroe 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe 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 |
$59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
| Palermo and Monroe 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 |
$195,200±$36kLowest 34% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
| Palermo and Monroe 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 |
$1,036±$322Lowest 9% 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 | $2,506Highest 17% below ME |
$2,286 25% below ME |
$2,207Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Palermo and Washington 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% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 24% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Lowest 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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.