Compare towns
Mercer vs Appleton vs Smithfield vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mercer has the most homeowners (92.1%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Mercer | Appleton | Smithfield | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 718Lowest |
1,360Highest |
856 |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
| Smithfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe 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% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Appleton 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% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,107±$2k 5% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
| Smithfield and Monroe 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 |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$242,800±$15kHighest 18% below ME |
$220,300±$57kLowest 26% 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 |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
$1,165±$152 about the ME average |
| Mercer and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,970Lowest 35% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Monroe 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% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.