Compare towns
Smithfield vs Dummerston 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 oldest population (median age 55.8).
Dummerston has the most expensive homes ($335k 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 | Dummerston | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 856 |
2,090Highest |
718Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±3.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Mercer 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% |
24.3%±3Lowest 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% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Smithfield and Dummerston 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. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$71,107±$2kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Smithfield and Dummerston 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. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$238,500±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$358Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,422±$249Highest about the U.S. average |
| Mercer and Dummerston 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. |
$4,536Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,970Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.5%±74Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dummerston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.