Compare towns
Washington vs Mendon vs Palermo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most affordable homes ($195k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Palermo has the most kids (18.1% 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 | Mendon | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7 24% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
43.4±6.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Palermo and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Palermo and Mendon 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 26% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$89,095±$15k 10% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,200±$36kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$259,700±$54k 22% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$322Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,235±$1kHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Palermo and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,286Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,506 20% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Palermo 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 |
U.S. 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.