Compare towns
Washington vs Danforth vs Palermo vs Liberty
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Palermo has the most people working from home (18.8%).
Liberty has the most kids (19.4% 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 | Washington | Danforth | Palermo | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624Highest |
452Lowest |
1,473 |
969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | +2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Danforth and Washington 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% |
14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Liberty and Palermo 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% |
22.6%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.3% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.7% ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest 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±$17k 20% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$89,095±$15kHighest 19% above ME |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
| Palermo and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$259,700±$54kHighest 12% below ME |
$229,600±$31k 23% below ME |
| Palermo and Liberty 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 |
$629±$22 45% below ME |
$1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
$559±$193Lowest 51% below 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 |
— | $2,506Highest 17% below ME |
$2,434 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Palermo and Washington 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% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 30% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — | RSU 12 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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.