Compare towns

Rome vs Readfield vs Smithfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).
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.

MeasureRomeReadfieldSmithfield
People
Population
1,215
2,651Highest
856Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.7%Highest
ME: +2.6%
0%
ME: +2.6%
-10.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
48.3±9.2
8% above ME
48.1±7.6Lowest
7% above ME
55.8±3.5Highest
25% above ME
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%±6.3Highest
ME: 18.1%
18.7%±3.9
ME: 18.1%
10%±3.5Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Rome and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.7%±9.1
ME: 22.4%
22.3%±4.5Lowest
ME: 22.4%
29.7%±3.5Highest
ME: 22.4%
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%
ME: 36.2%
48.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
34.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±4.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
3.3%±2
ME: 5.8%
3%±1.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Rome and Readfield 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% above ME
$86,504±$8k
16% above ME
$107,917±$27kHighest
44% above ME
Smithfield and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$329,300±$36kHighest
11% above ME
$326,400±$20k
10% above ME
$242,800±$15kLowest
18% below ME
Rome and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,150±$56Highest
about the ME average
$1,125±$844
about the ME average
$1,109±$358Lowest
about the ME average
Rome and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,829Lowest
40% below ME
$3,392Highest
12% above ME
$2,866
6% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±59.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
31.3%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
42.9%±45.2
ME: 48.4%
Rome and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.3%Highest
ME: 10.7%
5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
5.8%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
89.9%
ME: 74.3%
88.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
9 yrs newer than ME
1979Lowest
2 yrs newer than ME
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
21% above ME
30 minLowest
20% above ME
33 minHighest
32% above ME
Work from home
7.4%±3.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
24.3%±14.9Highest
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 —
School district — RSU 38 —
High school in town — Maranacook Community High Sch —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.5
—
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.