Compare towns
Smithfield vs Mapleton 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 oldest population (median age 55.8).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Mapleton | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 856 |
1,884Highest |
718Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$71,107±$2kLowest 5% below ME |
| Smithfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,800±$15kHighest 18% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% 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±$358 about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,970 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74 ME: 48.4% |
| Smithfield and Mercer 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest 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 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| 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.