Compare towns

Smithfield vs Friendship vs Norridgewock

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).
Friendship has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Norridgewock has the most affordable homes ($152k median).

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.

MeasureSmithfieldFriendshipNorridgewock
People
Population
856Lowest
1,213
3,288Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-10.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-0.9%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-2.6%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
55.8±3.5Highest
25% above ME
55.5±6.9
24% above ME
50.3±11Lowest
12% above ME
Smithfield and Friendship 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%
15.3%±4.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
10.5%±5
ME: 18.1%
Friendship and Norridgewock 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%
37.3%±4.7Highest
ME: 22.4%
25%±7.5Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Friendship 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%
39.6%Highest
ME: 36.2%
21.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±1.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
0.8%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
2.1%±1.6
ME: 5.8%
Smithfield and Norridgewock 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
$75,625±$22k
about the ME average
$61,579±$19kLowest
18% below ME
Smithfield and Friendship are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,800±$15k
18% below ME
$275,000±$56kHighest
7% below ME
$151,900±$52kLowest
49% below ME
Friendship and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,109±$358
about the ME average
$1,370±$53Highest
20% above ME
$1,063±$588Lowest
7% below ME
Friendship 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
$2,218
27% below ME
$1,462Lowest
52% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±45.2
ME: 48.4%
37.5%±42.4Lowest
ME: 48.4%
53.4%±46.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
Norridgewock 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
ME: 10.7%
10%
ME: 10.7%
20.9%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.9%
ME: 74.3%
91.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
82.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1973Lowest
4 yrs older than ME
1984Highest
7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
32% above ME
25 min
about the ME average
22 minLowest
10% below ME
Work from home
22%±7.2
ME: 15.9%
17.9%±7.4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
22.3%±13.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
Norridgewock and Smithfield 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 — — #91 of 133 in ME
School district — RSU 40/MSAD 40 RSU 54/MSAD 54
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.