Compare towns
Washington vs Weston vs Danforth vs Palermo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weston has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
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 | Weston | Danforth | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624Highest |
275Lowest |
666 |
1,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
55.1±14Highest 23% above ME |
53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
43.4±6.1Lowest 3% below ME |
| Weston and Danforth 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% |
14.9%±7.2 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Palermo and Weston 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% |
21.8%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Weston 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% |
23.3% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±4.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 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 |
$58,942±$7k 21% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$89,095±$15kHighest 19% above ME |
| Palermo and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
$171,700±$26k 42% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% 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±$29Lowest 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 | $2,286 25% below ME |
$1,500 51% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,506Highest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Weston and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.3% ME: 10.7% |
19.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±12.7 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest 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 | 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.