Compare towns

Palmyra vs Rome 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 most affordable homes ($155k median).
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% 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.

MeasurePalmyraRomeChesterville
People
Population
2,209Highest
1,215Lowest
1,397
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+13.7%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-1.8%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
37.1±4.8Lowest
17% below ME
48.3±9.2Highest
8% above ME
37.8±4
16% below ME
Rome 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%
21.4%±6.3Lowest
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%
24.7%±9.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
15%±3Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Rome 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%
39.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
20.4%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
5.2%±4.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.3%±2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Rome and Palmyra 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
$77,639±$25kHighest
4% above ME
$61,635±$10k
18% below ME
Rome 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±$34kLowest
48% below ME
$329,300±$36kHighest
11% above ME
$214,000±$40k
28% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$733±$119Lowest
36% below ME
$1,150±$56Highest
about the ME average
$1,088±$73
4% below ME
Rome and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,614Lowest
47% below ME
$1,829
40% below ME
$2,194Highest
28% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.2%±14.9
ME: 48.4%
54.2%±59.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
21.8%±30.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Rome and Palmyra 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%
10.3%
ME: 10.7%
12%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
91.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
86.4%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1994Highest
17 yrs newer than ME
1986
9 yrs newer than ME
1978Lowest
1 yr newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
14% below ME
30 minHighest
21% above ME
25 min
about the ME average
Work from home
7.5%±4.1Highest
ME: 15.9%
7.4%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
7.1%±3.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Palmyra and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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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.