Compare towns
Oakland vs Winthrop vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oakland has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Winthrop has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
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 | Winthrop | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,309Highest |
6,191 |
856Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+0.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME |
43.6±5.3 about the ME average |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.4%±5 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
40%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Oakland and Winthrop 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% above ME |
$86,470±$4k 16% above ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
| Smithfield and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,000±$23kLowest 20% below ME |
$294,800±$41kHighest about the ME average |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
| Winthrop and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$74 18% below ME |
$892±$319Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,109±$358Highest about the ME average |
| Smithfield and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,439Lowest 20% below ME |
$3,506Highest 15% above ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Oakland and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% ME: 10.7% |
12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Winthrop 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 | #12 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 18 | Winthrop Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Messalonskee High School | Winthrop High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
11.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.