Compare towns
Smithfield vs Brookline vs Mercer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($291k median).
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Brookline | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 856Highest |
531Lowest |
718 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±3.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mercer and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.9%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Smithfield 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 34% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$71,107±$2kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Smithfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,800±$15k 27% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$238,500±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$358Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,422±$249 about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,866 8% below U.S. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,970Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.5%±74Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.