Compare towns
Denmark vs Mercer 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 most expensive homes ($250k median).
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Mercer | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,054Highest |
718Lowest |
856 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.4±5 21% above ME |
43.4±4.5Lowest 3% 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% |
20.1%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mercer 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% |
25.9%±5.6Lowest 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% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Denmark and Smithfield 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 |
$71,107±$2k 5% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $250,000±$68kHighest 16% below ME |
$238,500±$32kLowest 20% below ME |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
| Denmark and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,409±$207 24% above ME |
$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
$1,109±$358Lowest about the ME average |
| Mercer and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,259 26% below ME |
$1,970Lowest 35% below ME |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.1% ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.