Compare towns
Otis vs Smithfield vs Starks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (22%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k 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 | Smithfield | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 705 |
856Highest |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.7±3.1 22% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
46.7±9.4Lowest 4% 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%±7.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Otis and Starks 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% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Otis 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% |
34.7% ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Smithfield and Starks 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 |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$63,500±$8kLowest 15% 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±$23kHighest 5% below ME |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
$1,063±$301Lowest 7% below ME |
| Otis and Smithfield 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 |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Starks 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5% ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 69% above ME |
33 minLowest 32% above ME |
33 min 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Otis Public Schools | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.