Compare towns
Denmark vs Smithfield vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Denmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
Waterville has the most renters (51.2% rent).
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 | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,054 |
856Lowest |
17,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.4±5 21% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below 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%±3.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±2.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Denmark and Waterville 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% |
18.3%±2.5Lowest 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% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,167±$10k 14% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$53,580±$4kLowest 28% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $250,000±$68kHighest 16% below ME |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
$184,600±$21kLowest 38% 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 |
$978±$72Lowest 14% below ME |
| 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 |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
$2,755 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±8.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.6%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Waterville 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 | — | — | #105 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | Waterville Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | — | Waterville Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.