Compare towns
Palmyra vs Peru vs Chesterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Palmyra has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Peru has the oldest population (median age 48).
Chesterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
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 | Palmyra | Peru | Chesterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,209Highest |
1,501 |
1,397Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.1±4.8Lowest 17% below ME |
48±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
37.8±4 16% below ME |
| Peru and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 29.2%±5.8 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Peru and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Palmyra and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,543±$17kLowest 19% below ME |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
$61,635±$10k 18% below ME |
| Peru and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $154,900±$34k 48% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$214,000±$40kHighest 28% below ME |
| Chesterville and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $733±$119 36% below ME |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
$1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,614Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
$2,194Highest 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±14.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Palmyra and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 7.5%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Peru and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 56 | — |
| High school 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.