Compare towns
Somerville vs Palmyra vs Jefferson
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%).
Palmyra has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($312k median).
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 | Palmyra | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 837Lowest |
2,209 |
2,647Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
37.1±4.8 17% below ME |
38.1±4.9Highest 15% below ME |
| Jefferson and Palmyra 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% |
29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Palmyra 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% |
16.7%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Jefferson and Palmyra 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% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Palmyra 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 |
$60,543±$17kLowest 19% below ME |
$85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME |
| Jefferson 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 |
$154,900±$34kLowest 48% below ME |
$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
$733±$119Lowest 36% below ME |
$1,120±$130 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,505 17% below ME |
$1,614Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,587Highest 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
47.2%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Palmyra 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% |
9.1% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Jefferson and Palmyra 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 | — | — | #45 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 12 | — | Jefferson Public Schools |
| High school 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.