Compare towns
Smithfield vs Middlesex vs Denmark vs Otis
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 affordable homes ($243k median).
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.
| Measure | Smithfield | Middlesex | Denmark | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 856 |
1,943Highest |
1,054 |
705Lowest |
| 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% |
+0.1% 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. |
54.7±3.1 41% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Otis 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% |
16.6%±7.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Otis 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% |
20.9%±8 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% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest 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. |
$101,250±$27k 25% above 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. |
$282,500±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$358Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,409±$207 about the U.S. average |
$1,563±$734Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Otis and Denmark 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. |
$2,263 27% 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% |
35.7%±100 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% |
7.8% 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% |
89.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | Otis Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.