Compare towns
Searsmont vs Appleton vs Palermo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Searsmont has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Palermo has the most kids (18.1% 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.
| Measure | Searsmont | Appleton | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,646Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.5±9.8 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
43.4±6.1Lowest 3% below ME |
| Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Palermo and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,000±$20k 16% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$89,095±$15kHighest 19% above ME |
| Palermo and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$259,700±$54k 12% below ME |
| Searsmont and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $940±$311Lowest 17% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
| Palermo and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,788 8% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,506Lowest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±41.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.3%±10.1 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 71 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.