Compare towns
Denmark vs Durham vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Denmark has the oldest housing (typical home built 1980).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Denmark | Durham | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,054 |
4,262Highest |
856Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.4±5 21% above ME |
42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
| Smithfield and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Durham and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Denmark and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,167±$10kLowest 14% below ME |
$99,181±$5k 33% above ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
| Smithfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $250,000±$68k 16% below ME |
$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$242,800±$15kLowest 18% below ME |
| Durham and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,409±$207Highest 24% above ME |
— | $1,109±$358Lowest about the ME average |
| Denmark and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,259Lowest 26% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Denmark and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #14 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 05 | — |
| High school 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.