Compare towns
Norridgewock 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
Norridgewock has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).
Starks has the most kids (16.4% under 18).
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 | Starks | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,288Highest |
556Lowest |
856 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±11 12% above ME |
46.7±9.4Lowest 4% 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% |
16.4%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest 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% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest 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% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Highest 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 |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $151,900±$52k 49% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$242,800±$15kHighest 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$588Lowest 7% below ME |
$1,063±$301Lowest 7% below ME |
$1,109±$358Highest about the ME average |
| 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 |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±46.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Lowest 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% |
19.2% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% 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 |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 22.3%±13.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest 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 | — | — |
| 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.