Compare towns
Washington vs Jackson 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 the most affordable homes ($195k median).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Jackson | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624Highest |
567Lowest |
1,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
| Washington and Palermo 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% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Palermo and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Washington and Palermo 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% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$89,095±$15kHighest 19% above ME |
| Palermo and Jackson 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 |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$259,700±$54kHighest 12% below ME |
| Palermo and Jackson 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±$12Lowest 45% 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 |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$2,506 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100Highest 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% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 30% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
31 minLowest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and Jackson 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 |
| 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.