Compare towns
Smithfield vs Mapleton vs Norridgewock vs Friendship
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).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Norridgewock has the most affordable homes ($152k median).
Friendship has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Norridgewock | Friendship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 856Lowest |
1,884 |
3,288Highest |
1,213 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2.6% ME: +2.6% |
-0.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
50.3±11 12% above ME |
55.5±6.9 24% 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
10.5%±5 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Friendship 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
37.3%±4.7Highest 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
39.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
0.8%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$61,579±$19kLowest 18% below ME |
$75,625±$22k about the ME average |
| 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±$15k 18% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$151,900±$52kLowest 49% below ME |
$275,000±$56kHighest 7% 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,063±$588 7% below ME |
$1,370±$53Highest 20% above 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,462Lowest 52% below ME |
$2,218 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±46.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±42.4 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
20.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.2% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 22%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.3%±13.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.9%±7.4 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 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 54/MSAD 54 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.