Compare towns
Somerville vs Sumner vs Windsor 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%).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Palermo has the highest household income ($89k).
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 | Sumner | Windsor | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 837Lowest |
845 |
2,690Highest |
1,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+2.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
43.5±8 about the ME average |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
| Sumner and Windsor 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% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.2%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Windsor 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% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
31.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Palermo and Windsor 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 |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$63,178±$5k 15% 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 |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$228,800±$22k 23% below ME |
$259,700±$54kHighest 12% below ME |
| Palermo and Windsor 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 |
— | $1,265±$400 11% above ME |
$1,235±$1kLowest 8% above ME |
| Somerville and Windsor 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 |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,160Lowest 29% below ME |
$2,506Highest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±58.5 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±31.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Somerville 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% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
89.1% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
36 min 45% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±3 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and Sumner 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 | — | — | #44 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 12 | RSU 10 | RSU 12 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None 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.