Compare towns
Perry vs Starks vs Mercer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Perry has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Perry | Starks | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 744Highest |
556Lowest |
718 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±11.4 about the ME average |
46.7±9.4Highest 4% above ME |
43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
| Starks and Perry 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% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Mercer and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Perry and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,056±$4kHighest 10% above ME |
$63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME |
$71,107±$2k 5% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,400±$13k 34% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME |
| Mercer and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,063±$301Lowest 7% below ME |
$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
| Mercer and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,132Highest 3% above ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,970 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Starks 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% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% ME: 74.3% |
90%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 6% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Perry Public Schools | — | — |
| 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.