Compare towns
Smithfield vs Middlesex vs Waterford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Waterford has the most renters (11.8% rent).
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 | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 856Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±3.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
54.3±1.6 40% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Waterford 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% |
12.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Waterford 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% |
30.5%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% |
4.7%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Waterford 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. |
$66,071±$17kLowest 18% 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. |
$273,800±$36k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$358 22% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$870±$405Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Smithfield 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. |
$1,917Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±45.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.6%±34 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Waterford 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% |
16.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than 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% |
18.8%±7.2Lowest 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 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.