Compare towns
Washington vs Danforth vs Enfield 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%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Enfield has the most homeowners (95.9%).
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 | Washington | Danforth | Enfield | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624Highest |
666Lowest |
1,462 |
1,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-10.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
49.8±5.4 11% above ME |
43.4±6.1Lowest 3% below ME |
| Danforth and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.5%±5.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Enfield 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% |
26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
28%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Enfield and Danforth 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% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24% ME: 36.2% |
31.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 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±$17k 20% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$62,667±$7k 16% below ME |
$89,095±$15kHighest 19% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$178,100±$22k 40% below ME |
$259,700±$54kHighest 12% below ME |
| Palermo and Washington 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±$29 45% below ME |
$425±$422Lowest 63% 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 | $2,286 25% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,152 29% below ME |
$2,506Highest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
58.3%±64.3 ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Palermo and Enfield 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% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
27 minLowest 11% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.8Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — | RSU 31/MSAD 31 | 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 | 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.