Compare towns
Smithfield vs Lee vs Mercer
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).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($175k 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 | Lee | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 856 |
925Highest |
718Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
| Smithfield and Lee 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% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee 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 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
| 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee 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 |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$71,107±$2k 5% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,800±$15kHighest 18% below ME |
$174,500±$25kLowest 41% below ME |
$238,500±$32k 20% below ME |
| Smithfield and Mercer 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 |
— | $1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
| Mercer 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 |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
$1,970 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lee 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% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 32% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | — |
| 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.