Compare towns

Smithfield vs Middlesex vs Denmark

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the most renters (11.1% rent).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Denmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).

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.

MeasureSmithfieldMiddlesexDenmark
People
Population
856Lowest
1,943Highest
1,054
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-10.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.8±3.5Highest
43% above U.S.
44.4±3.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
54.4±5
40% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Middlesex 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
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.8%±7.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex 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±$27k
34% above U.S.
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
$64,167±$10kLowest
21% below U.S.
Middlesex and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,800±$15kLowest
27% below U.S.
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
$250,000±$68k
25% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,109±$358Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
$1,409±$207Highest
about the U.S. average
Denmark and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,866
8% below U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
$2,259Lowest
28% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±45.2
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
90.6%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
23% above U.S.
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
Work from home
22%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.7%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.