What stands out worked out from the figures below

Perry has the most kids (24.1% under 18).

Searsmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

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	Perry	Searsmont
People
Population	744Lowest	1,646Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+0.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	45.5±11.4Highest about the ME average	44.5±9.8Lowest about the ME average
	Perry and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%	13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	21%±6.2 ME: 22.4%	21%±1.3 ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6% ME: 36.2%	31.6% ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%	10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Searsmont and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,056±$4kLowest 10% above ME	$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME
	Searsmont and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,400±$13kLowest 34% below ME	$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$940±$311 17% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,132Highest 3% above ME	$2,788Lowest 8% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	41.4%±41.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Searsmont and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	6.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	90.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME	1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 6% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9%	16.3%±10.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Perry and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Perry Public Schools	RSU 71
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.