Compare towns
Mercer vs Smithfield vs Norridgewock
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%).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
Norridgewock has the most affordable homes ($152k median).
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 | Smithfield | Norridgewock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 718Lowest |
856 |
3,288Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
50.3±11 12% above ME |
| Smithfield and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
10.5%±5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mercer and Norridgewock 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% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
25%±7.5Lowest 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% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Smithfield and Norridgewock 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 |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$61,579±$19kLowest 18% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,500±$32k 20% below ME |
$242,800±$15kHighest 18% below ME |
$151,900±$52kLowest 49% 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±$358 about the ME average |
$1,063±$588Lowest 7% below ME |
| 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 |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
$1,462Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±46.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Norridgewock and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.5%±8.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
22.3%±13.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Norridgewock and Smithfield 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 | — | — | #91 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | RSU 54/MSAD 54 |
| 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.