Compare towns
Lovell vs Mercer vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lovell has the most expensive homes ($295k median).
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Lovell | Mercer | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,353Highest |
718Lowest |
856 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.2±3.5 17% above ME |
43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
| Smithfield and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mercer and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Lovell and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,625±$20k 8% above ME |
$71,107±$2kLowest 5% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
| Smithfield and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$47kHighest about the ME average |
$238,500±$32kLowest 20% below ME |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
| Lovell and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,419±$178 25% above ME |
$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
$1,109±$358Lowest about the ME average |
| Mercer and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,480Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,970 35% below ME |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±29.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Lovell and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 28% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.8%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 72/MSAD 72 | — | — |
| 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.