The Town FilesPalermo, Maine
Town in Waldo County · population 1,570 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $259,700
- Household income
- $89,095
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 86 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 43.4
Palermo is a town of 1,570 people in Waldo County, Maine. The median home is worth $259,700, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks better for families than 89% of Maine towns, quieter than 83% of Maine towns, better for a vacation home than 75% of Maine towns.
How Palermo ranks
Percentile among Maine towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maine towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Palermo is worth $259,700, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $89,095, which is more affordable than 71% of Maine towns. Median rent is $1,235 a month. 91.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Palermo | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $259,700 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $1,235 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $89,095 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 91.2% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 33.1% | — |
Who lives in Palermo
| People | Palermo | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.2% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.7% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.8% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 18.8% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 30.5 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 90.0% |
Weather in Palermo
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows 8.8°F. About 43.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 85.5 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 164 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Palermo since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 14, 1956 about 5.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 14, 1956.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 18, 2006.
Severe weather in Waldo County since 1996
Waldo County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4764: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| January 30, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4754: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3598: Hurricane Lee |
| July 6, 2023 | Flood | DR-4719: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4696: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Waldo County
Waldo County had 11,273 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,674 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Palermo itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Palermo
1 public school with 111 students, about 8.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palermo Consolidated School | K-8 | 111 | 8.5 |
Towns near Palermo
- Liberty, ME5.0 mi · 934 people · home $229,600
- China, ME5.3 mi · 4,408 people · home $240,000
- Montville, ME7.3 mi · 1,020 people · home $221,600
- Albion, ME7.8 mi · 2,006 people · home $230,900
- Somerville, ME7.9 mi · 600 people · home $218,100
- Freedom, ME7.9 mi · 711 people · home $190,600
- Windsor, ME8.9 mi · 2,632 people · home $228,800
- Washington, ME9.6 mi · 1,592 people · home $195,200
Palermo questions
Is Palermo, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Palermo scores better for retirees than 54% of Maine towns and quieter than 83%. 21.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.4).
How much does a house cost in Palermo?
The median owner-occupied home in Palermo is valued at $259,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,095, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,235 a month.
What is the weather like in Palermo?
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows 8.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.4 inches of precipitation a year and 85.5 inches of snow.
Does Palermo get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Palermo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 14, 1956. The typical Maine town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)