Compare towns
Smithfield vs Augusta vs Denmark vs Otis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smithfield has the most people working from home (22%).
Augusta has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Denmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Otis has the most expensive homes ($283k 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 | Smithfield | Augusta | Denmark | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 856 |
19,077Highest |
1,054 |
705Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
54.4±5 21% above ME |
54.7±3.1 22% 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 | 10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±7.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Augusta and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±8Lowest 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+ | 34.7% ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Denmark and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$64,167±$10k 14% below ME |
$101,250±$27k 35% 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 | $242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$250,000±$68k 16% below ME |
$282,500±$23kHighest 5% below ME |
| Otis and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$358 about the ME average |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,409±$207 24% above ME |
$1,563±$734Highest 37% 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 | $2,866Highest 6% below ME |
$2,465 19% below ME |
$2,259Lowest 26% below ME |
$2,263 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 32% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
| Work from home | 22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Augusta 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 | — | #119 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | — | Otis Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Cony | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9 |
— | — |
| 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.