Compare towns
Washington vs Middlesex 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Palermo has the youngest population (median age 43.4).
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 | Middlesex | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624 |
1,943Highest |
1,473Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
43.4±6.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Washington and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Palermo 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$89,095±$15k 10% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$259,700±$54k 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$322Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,235±$1k 13% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Palermo 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$2,506 20% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.