Compare towns
Rome vs Calais vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
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 | Rome | Calais | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,215 |
1,713Highest |
856Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±9.2 24% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
55.8±3.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,639±$25kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$107,917±$27kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$242,800±$15kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Calais and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$56 19% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,109±$358Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Calais and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,829Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$2,866 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±59.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rome and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.