Compare towns
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
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Smithfield has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Durham | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 4,262Highest |
856Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kLowest 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 | $322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$242,800±$15kLowest 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,109±$358 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$2,866Lowest 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Smithfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Lowest 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 |
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.