Compare towns
Oakland vs Middlesex vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oakland has the most renters (22.4% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Smithfield has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Oakland | Middlesex | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,309Highest |
1,943 |
856Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±6.9Lowest 3% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
55.8±3.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
10%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakland and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,813±$16kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$107,917±$27k 34% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,000±$23kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$242,800±$15k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$74Lowest 34% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,109±$358 22% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,439Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$2,866 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oakland and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #23 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 18 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | Messalonskee High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.