Compare towns
Otis vs Sidney vs Smithfield vs Denmark
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (22%).
Denmark has the most homeowners (92.7%).
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 | Sidney | Smithfield | Denmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 705Lowest |
4,790Highest |
856 |
1,054 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.7±3.1 22% above ME |
43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
54.4±5 21% 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% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney 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% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Denmark and Smithfield 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% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.7% ME: 36.2% |
29.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Denmark 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 |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$64,167±$10kLowest 14% below ME |
| 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 |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$242,800±$15kLowest 18% below ME |
$250,000±$68k 16% below ME |
| Sidney and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
$1,340±$304 18% above ME |
$1,109±$358Lowest about the ME average |
$1,409±$207 24% above ME |
| Otis and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,263 25% below ME |
$2,474 19% below ME |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
$2,259Lowest 26% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Denmark 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% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5% ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 69% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
33 min 32% above ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Sidney 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 | — | #15 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Otis Public Schools | RSU 18 | — | — |
| 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.