Compare towns
Somerville vs Cherryfield vs Palermo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
Cherryfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Palermo has the highest household income ($89k).
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 | Somerville | Cherryfield | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 837 |
809Lowest |
1,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7% ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Palermo and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$15k 5% below ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$89,095±$15kHighest 19% above ME |
| Palermo and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,100±$41k 26% below ME |
$195,800±$53kLowest 34% below ME |
$259,700±$54kHighest 12% below ME |
| Palermo and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$1,235±$1k 8% above ME |
| Somerville and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,505 17% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$2,506Highest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17% ME: 10.7% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 12 | Cherryfield 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.