Compare towns
Palermo vs West Bath vs Washington
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 kids (18.1% under 18).
West Bath has the most expensive homes ($423k median).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | West Bath | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,473Lowest |
1,863Highest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±6.1Lowest 3% below ME |
54.2±5.6Highest 21% above ME |
48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
| West Bath and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Palermo and West Bath 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% |
29.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| West Bath 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% ME: 36.2% |
50.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| West Bath 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 |
$103,333±$27kHighest 38% above ME |
$59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
| West Bath 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 |
$422,800±$102kHighest 43% above ME |
$195,200±$36kLowest 34% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
$1,112±$327 about the ME average |
$1,036±$322Lowest 9% below ME |
| Palermo and West Bath 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 |
$3,516Highest 16% above ME |
$2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 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% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2% ME: 74.3% |
82.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 24% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 12 | West Bath Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.