Compare towns
Somerville vs Mapleton vs Palermo vs Chesterville
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Palermo has the most people working from home (18.8%).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% under 18).
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 | Mapleton | Palermo | Chesterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 837Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,473 |
1,397 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
-1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
43.4±6.1Highest 3% below ME |
37.8±4 16% below ME |
| Palermo and Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
15%±3 ME: 22.4% |
| Palermo and Mapleton 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.7% ME: 36.2% |
20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Palermo 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$89,095±$15k 19% above ME |
$61,635±$10kLowest 18% below ME |
| Mapleton and Palermo 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$259,700±$54kHighest 12% below ME |
$214,000±$40k 28% 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,235±$1k 8% above ME |
$1,088±$73 4% below 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,506Highest 17% below ME |
$2,194 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 12 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 | 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.