Compare towns
Smithfield vs Beals vs Denmark
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 highest household income ($108k).
Beals has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Denmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Beals | Denmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 856 |
498Lowest |
1,054Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5% ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
48±15.6Lowest 7% above ME |
54.4±5 21% above ME |
| Smithfield and Denmark 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% |
16.1%±6.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Beals and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.1%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Denmark and Beals 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% |
37.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Beals and Denmark 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 |
$64,063±$14kLowest 14% below ME |
$64,167±$10k 14% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,800±$15kLowest 18% below ME |
$256,700±$45kHighest 13% below ME |
$250,000±$68k 16% below ME |
| Beals 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 |
$907±$378Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,409±$207Highest 24% above ME |
| Denmark and Smithfield 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 |
$2,580 15% below ME |
$2,259Lowest 26% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Denmark and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% ME: 74.3% |
83.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 32% above ME |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±6.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Beals 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.