Compare towns
Jay vs Smithfield vs Wilton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.8%).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (22%).
Wilton has the most kids (22.2% 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 | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
856Lowest |
3,862 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-6.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
46.1±6.6 about the ME average |
| Smithfield and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Wilton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
27%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Wilton 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 |
$63,396±$23kLowest 15% 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 |
$202,000±$30k 32% below ME |
| Smithfield and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141 33% below ME |
$1,109±$358Highest about the ME average |
$446±$274Lowest 61% below ME |
| Smithfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
$2,344 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
52.5%±31.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Wilton and Smithfield 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% |
14.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.1%±7.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Wilton 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 | #86 of 133 in ME | — | #121 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 73 | — | RSU 09 |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.