Compare towns
Norridgewock vs Smithfield vs Starks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norridgewock has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
Starks has the most kids (16.4% 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 | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,288Highest |
856 |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±11 12% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
46.7±9.4Lowest 4% 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% |
16.4%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Starks and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Norridgewock 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest 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 | $61,579±$19kLowest 18% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $151,900±$52k 49% below ME |
$242,800±$15kHighest 18% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$588Lowest 7% below ME |
$1,109±$358Highest about the ME average |
$1,063±$301Lowest 7% 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 | $1,462 52% below ME |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±46.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Norridgewock and Starks 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% |
19.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 10% below ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 22.3%±13.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest 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 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.