Compare towns
Searsmont vs Unity vs Palermo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Searsmont has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Unity | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,646Highest |
1,375Lowest |
1,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±9.8 14% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
43.4±6.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Unity 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 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$89,095±$15kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Palermo and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,000±$31kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$259,700±$54kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Searsmont and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $940±$311Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,235±$1k 13% below U.S. |
| Unity and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,788 11% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$2,506Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±10.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Unity School District | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.