What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bremen has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).

Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($243k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bremen	Smithfield
People
Population	917Highest	856Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Highest ME: +2.6%	-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.1±8.2Lowest 16% above ME	55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME
	Smithfield and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%	10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Bremen and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.1%±9.9Highest ME: 22.4%	29.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Bremen and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.2%Highest ME: 36.2%	34.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Smithfield and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,000±$21kLowest 34% above ME	$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME
	Smithfield and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,300±$28kHighest 43% above ME	$242,800±$15kLowest 18% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,109±$358 about the ME average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,829Lowest 7% below ME	$2,866Highest 6% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4%
	Smithfield and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 13% below ME	33 minHighest 32% above ME
Work from home	22.7%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9%	22%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Bremen and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.