Compare towns
Jay vs Smithfield vs Chesterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (22%).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% under 18).
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 | Jay | Smithfield | Chesterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
856Lowest |
1,397 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$61,635±$10kLowest 18% below ME |
| Smithfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$242,800±$15kHighest 18% below ME |
$214,000±$40k 28% below ME |
| Smithfield and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$1,109±$358Highest about the ME average |
$1,088±$73 4% below ME |
| Smithfield and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245 26% below ME |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
$2,194Lowest 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Smithfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #86 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | — | — |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.