Compare towns
Norridgewock vs Appleton vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norridgewock has the most affordable homes ($152k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Norridgewock | Appleton | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,288Highest |
1,360 |
856Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±11 12% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% 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 | 10.5%±5 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Appleton and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±7.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest 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+ | 21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,579±$19k 18% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $151,900±$52kLowest 49% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$242,800±$15kHighest 18% below ME |
| Smithfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$588Lowest 7% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,109±$358Highest about the ME average |
| Smithfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,462Lowest 52% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±46.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 10% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 22.3%±13.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2 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 | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None 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.