Compare towns
Washington vs Rome 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).
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
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 | Rome | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624Highest |
1,215Lowest |
1,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
48.3±9.2Highest 8% above ME |
43.4±6.1Lowest 3% below ME |
| Rome 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% |
21.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Rome 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% |
24.7%±9.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Rome and Washington 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% |
39.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±4.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Rome 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 20% below ME |
$77,639±$25k 4% above ME |
$89,095±$15kHighest 19% above ME |
| Palermo and Rome 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 |
$329,300±$36kHighest 11% above ME |
$259,700±$54k 12% below ME |
| Rome 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 9% below ME |
$1,150±$56 about the ME average |
$1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
| Palermo and Rome 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 |
$1,829Lowest 40% below ME |
$2,506Highest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
54.2%±59.8Lowest 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% |
10.3% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
30 minLowest 21% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
7.4%±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 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.