Compare towns
Palermo vs Windham 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 homeowners (91.2%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Edgecomb has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Windham | Monroe | Edgecomb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,473 |
19,188Highest |
1,001Lowest |
1,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
-4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
43.5±7Highest about the ME average |
41±8.8Lowest 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% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Windham 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% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest 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% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
39.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
8%±6.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Edgecomb and Monroe 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 |
$107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
$81,300±$7kLowest 9% above ME |
$108,750±$18kHighest 46% above ME |
| Edgecomb and Windham 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 |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$220,300±$57kLowest 26% below ME |
$348,400±$36k 17% above ME |
| Windham and Edgecomb 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 |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$1,165±$152Lowest about the ME average |
— |
| Palermo and Windham 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 |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$2,207Lowest 27% below ME |
$3,577 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 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% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
90.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 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 |
26 min 7% above ME |
32 minHighest 28% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.8%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Windham 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 | — | #95 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 12 | RSU 14 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Edgecomb Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.