Compare towns
Denmark vs Smithfield vs Unity vs Dresden
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 homeowners (92.7%).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Dresden has the most kids (17% under 18).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Smithfield | Unity | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,054 |
856Lowest |
1,858Highest |
1,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.4±5 21% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
| Smithfield and Dresden 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% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dresden 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% |
29.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,167±$10k 14% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$74,844±$22k about the ME average |
| Smithfield and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $250,000±$68kHighest 16% below ME |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$240,100±$29k 19% 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±$207Highest 24% above ME |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,194±$502 5% above ME |
| Denmark and Dresden 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 |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$2,500 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
33 min 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | — | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.