Compare towns
Somerville vs Danforth vs Chesterville 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%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% under 18).
Palermo has the most people working from home (18.8%).
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 | Somerville | Danforth | Chesterville | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 837 |
666Lowest |
1,397 |
1,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
37.8±4 16% below ME |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
| Danforth and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±7 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville and Somerville 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% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
15%±3 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+ | 25.7% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.4% ME: 36.2% |
31.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Palermo and Chesterville 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 |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$61,635±$10k 18% 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 |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$214,000±$40k 28% 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 |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,088±$73 4% 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 |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,194 28% below ME |
$2,506Highest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8Lowest 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 12 | — | — | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.