Compare towns
Exeter vs Otis vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Otis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (22%).
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 | Exeter | Otis | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,093Highest |
705Lowest |
856 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7Lowest 17% above ME |
54.7±3.1 22% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
| Smithfield and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±7.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Otis and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Exeter and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,408±$12kLowest 13% above ME |
$101,250±$27k 35% above ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
| Smithfield and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$282,500±$23kHighest 5% below ME |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
| Otis and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,263 25% below ME |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Smithfield and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.5% ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 43% above ME |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
33 minLowest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Otis Public Schools | — |
| 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.