Compare towns
Otis vs Unity vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otis has the most kids (16.6% under 18).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (22%).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 705Lowest |
1,858Highest |
856 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.7±3.1 22% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% 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%±7.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Otis and Unity 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest 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% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,250±$27k 35% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above 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 |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
| Otis and Smithfield 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 |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Unity 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 69% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Otis Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.