Compare towns
Norridgewock vs Smithfield vs Madison
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).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
Madison has the most kids (14.9% under 18).
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 | Smithfield | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,288 |
856Lowest |
4,782Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±11 12% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
49.6±3.4Lowest 11% 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% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Madison 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% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison 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±$19kLowest 18% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $151,900±$52kLowest 49% below ME |
$242,800±$15kHighest 18% below ME |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
| Smithfield and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$588 7% below ME |
$1,109±$358Highest about the ME average |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
| Smithfield and Norridgewock 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 |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
$1,983 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±46.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7Lowest 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 | 20.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 10% below ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 22.3%±13.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Lowest 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 | — | RSU 59/MSAD 59 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Madison Jr/Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.