Compare towns
Smithfield vs Durham 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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Denmark has the oldest housing (typical home built 1980).
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 | Denmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 856Lowest |
4,262Highest |
1,054 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below 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% |
19.7%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Durham and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Denmark and Smithfield 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% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Durham 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 |
$99,181±$5k 33% above ME |
$64,167±$10kLowest 14% below 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 |
$250,000±$68k 16% below ME |
| Durham and Denmark 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 |
— | $1,409±$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 | $2,866 6% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$2,259Lowest 26% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 32% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±6.4Lowest 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 | 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.