Compare towns
Mercer vs Starks 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%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
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 | Mercer | Starks | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 718 |
556Lowest |
856Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
| Smithfield and Starks 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% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mercer and Starks 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% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest 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% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Smithfield and Starks 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 |
$63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,500±$32k 20% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% 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 |
$1,063±$301Lowest 7% 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 |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Starks 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% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest 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.