Compare towns
Otis vs Appleton vs Smithfield vs Sweden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (22%).
Sweden has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Otis | Appleton | Smithfield | Sweden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 705 |
1,360Highest |
856 |
537Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 54.7±3.1 22% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
51.1±19.2 14% above ME |
| Smithfield and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±7.8 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±5.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sweden and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,250±$27k 35% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$73,750±$25k about the ME average |
| Smithfield and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,500±$23k 5% below ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
$311,300±$61kHighest 5% above ME |
| Sweden and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$734 37% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
$1,667±$815Highest 46% above ME |
| Sweden and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,263Lowest 25% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
$2,598 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
8.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 69% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.5%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Otis Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.