Compare towns
Searsmont vs Danforth 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).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Palermo has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Danforth | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,646Highest |
666Lowest |
1,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.5±9.8 about the ME average |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
43.4±6.1Lowest 3% below ME |
| Danforth and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Palermo and Searsmont 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%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth 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% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont and Palermo 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 |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% 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 |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% 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±$311 17% below ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
| Palermo and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,788Highest 8% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,506 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±41.3 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Palermo and Searsmont 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% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 15% above ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.3%±10.1 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest 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 | — | RSU 12 |
| High school 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.