Compare towns
Merrill vs Wesley vs Smyrna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Merrill has the most people working from home (13.2%).
Wesley has the most affordable homes ($69k median).
Smyrna has the shortest commute (15 min average).
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 | Merrill | Wesley | Smyrna |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 372 |
320Lowest |
380Highest |
| Median age | 33.2±9.9 26% below ME |
37.3±3.1Highest 17% below ME |
31±9.6Lowest 31% below ME |
| Wesley and Merrill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 41.7%±11Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±6.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
33.2%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Merrill and Smyrna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
10.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wesley and Merrill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.2% ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wesley and Merrill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,536±$8kHighest 12% below ME |
$63,125±$34k 16% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
| Merrill and Wesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $131,600±$21kHighest 56% below ME |
$68,800±$21kLowest 77% below ME |
$117,100±$10k 61% below ME |
| Merrill and Smyrna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $425±$63 63% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,449Highest 52% below ME |
$558Lowest 82% below ME |
$1,200 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Merrill and Wesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
34.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 19% above ME |
48 minHighest 96% above ME |
15 minLowest 37% below ME |
| Work from home | 13.2%±6.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
1.9%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±6.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Merrill and Smyrna 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.