Compare towns
Somerville vs Palmyra vs Washington
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Washington has the most people working from home (14.6%).
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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 837Lowest |
2,209Highest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
37.1±4.8 17% below ME |
48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Washington 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% |
14.2%±4Lowest 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% |
21.3%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Washington 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
17.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Palmyra and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$15kHighest 5% below ME |
$60,543±$17k 19% below ME |
$59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
| Somerville and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,100±$41kHighest 26% below ME |
$154,900±$34kLowest 48% below ME |
$195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
| Somerville and Washington 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 |
$733±$119Lowest 36% below ME |
$1,036±$322 9% below ME |
| Somerville and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,505Highest 17% below ME |
$1,614Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,286 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
47.2%±14.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Washington 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest 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 |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Washington and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 12 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.