Compare towns
Smithfield vs Durham
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 oldest population (median age 55.8).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Durham |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 856Lowest |
4,262Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Durham 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 44% above ME |
$99,181±$5kLowest 33% above ME |
| Smithfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,800±$15kLowest 18% below ME |
$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$358 about the ME average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,866Lowest 6% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Smithfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Durham 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 | — | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 05 |
| 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.