Compare towns
Mercer vs Anson vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($100k median).
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 | Mercer | Anson | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 718 |
680Lowest |
856Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.6% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
43.3±15.2Lowest 3% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
26.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
0%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Smithfield and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,107±$2kLowest 5% below ME |
$87,770±$61k 17% above ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
| Smithfield and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,500±$32k 20% below ME |
$100,400±$28kLowest 66% below ME |
$242,800±$15kHighest 18% below ME |
| Smithfield and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
$914±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
| Mercer and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,970 35% below ME |
$1,207Lowest 60% below ME |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4% |
31.8%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Smithfield and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
60.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1950Lowest 27 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
0%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.