What stands out worked out from the figures below

Perham has the oldest population (median age 53).

Palmyra has the most kids (29.2% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Perham	Palmyra
People
Population	326Lowest	2,209Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.1% ME: +2.6%
Median age	53±12.9Highest 18% above ME	37.1±4.8Lowest 17% below ME
	Perham and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±8.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1%
	Palmyra and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±2.3Highest ME: 22.4%	16.7%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	4%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Palmyra and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,500±$22kHighest 16% below ME	$60,543±$17kLowest 19% below ME
	Perham and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$117,600±$9kLowest 60% below ME	$154,900±$34kHighest 48% below ME
	Palmyra and Perham 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
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,641Highest 46% below ME	$1,614Lowest 47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	47.2%±14.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Palmyra and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9.1%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME	1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	8.4%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9%	7.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Perham and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.