What stands out worked out from the figures below

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Mercer	Smithfield
People
Population	718Lowest	856Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME	55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME
Kids under 18	20.1%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1%	10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	25.9%±5.6Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.7%±1.7Lowest 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	$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$238,500±$32kLowest 20% 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	$1,109±$358Lowest 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	$1,970Lowest 35% below ME	$2,866Highest 6% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4%	42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4%
	Smithfield and Mercer 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%	5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 23% above ME	33 minHighest 32% above ME
Work from home	20.5%±8.9Lowest 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
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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.