Compare towns
Otis vs Readfield vs Windham vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
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 | Readfield | Windham | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 705Lowest |
2,651 |
19,188Highest |
856 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.7±3.1 22% above ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% 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% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Windham and Readfield 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% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Windham and Readfield 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 |
$86,504±$8kLowest 16% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$107,917±$27k 44% above ME |
| Windham and Smithfield 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 |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$242,800±$15kLowest 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$1,109±$358Lowest about the ME average |
| Otis and Windham 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 |
$3,392 12% above ME |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Smithfield and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 69% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Readfield 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 | — | #20 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Otis Public Schools | RSU 38 | RSU 14 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| 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.