Compare towns
Palermo vs Wayne vs China
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Palermo has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
China has the most kids (20.4% 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 | Wayne | China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,473 |
1,101Lowest |
4,526Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| China 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and China 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$96,309±$12kHighest 29% above ME |
| China and Wayne 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$240,000±$37kLowest 19% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
— |
| Palermo and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,506Lowest 17% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$2,535 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Palermo and Wayne 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% |
7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 24% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
30 minLowest 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.8%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne 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 | — | — | #27 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 12 | RSU 38 | RSU 18 |
| 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.