Compare towns
Somerville vs Gorham vs Morrill 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 the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Morrill has the most affordable homes ($214k median).
Palermo has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
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 | Gorham | Morrill | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 837Lowest |
18,300Highest |
914 |
1,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.5% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.8% ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
39.8±6.1 11% below ME |
43.4±6.1Highest 3% below ME |
| Palermo and Morrill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.8%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Morrill 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% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Palermo and Morrill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.2% ME: 36.2% |
31.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$15kLowest 5% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$74,250±$18k about the ME average |
$89,095±$15k 19% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,100±$41k 26% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$214,000±$18kLowest 28% below ME |
$259,700±$54k 12% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$265 39% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$975±$891Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,235±$1k 8% above ME |
| Gorham and Somerville 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 |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,472Lowest 19% below ME |
$2,506 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
34.3%±45.5Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.3% ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.5% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
29 min 16% above ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.9%±3.3 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 12 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 71 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.