Compare towns
Washington vs Alfred vs Palermo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Alfred has the most expensive homes ($342k median).
Palermo has the most people working from home (18.8%).
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 | Washington | Alfred | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624 |
3,125Highest |
1,473Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
44.9±5.3 about the ME average |
43.4±6.1Lowest 3% below ME |
| Washington and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Palermo and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
25.4%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Alfred and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.7% ME: 36.2% |
31.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Palermo and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
$82,321±$18k 10% above ME |
$89,095±$15kHighest 19% above ME |
| Palermo and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,200±$36kLowest 34% below ME |
$342,300±$38kHighest 15% above ME |
$259,700±$54k 12% below ME |
| Alfred and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$322 9% below ME |
$1,035±$432Lowest 9% below ME |
$1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
| Palermo and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
$3,543Highest 17% above ME |
$2,506 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and Washington 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 | — | #74 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | 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 |
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.