What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the most people working from home (22%).

Dresden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Smithfield	Dresden
People
Population	856Lowest	1,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+3.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME	55.1±7.9Lowest 23% above ME
	Smithfield and Dresden 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%	17%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4%	24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Smithfield and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.9 ME: 5.8%	3%±1.9 ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME	$74,844±$22kLowest about the ME average
	Smithfield and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,800±$15kHighest 18% below ME	$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME
	Smithfield and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$358Lowest about the ME average	$1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME
	Dresden 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	$2,500Lowest 18% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4%	13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Smithfield and Dresden 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%	9.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 32% above ME	33 minHighest 35% above ME
Work from home	22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9%	6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district	—	RSU 02
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.