Compare towns
Smithfield vs Perry vs Waterford
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).
Perry has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Waterford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Perry | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 856 |
744Lowest |
1,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-9.8% ME: +2.6% |
+1.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
45.5±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
54.3±1.6 21% above ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.9%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21%±6.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
| 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Waterford 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 |
$82,056±$4k 10% above ME |
$66,071±$17kLowest 12% below ME |
| Smithfield and Perry 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 |
$196,400±$13kLowest 34% below ME |
$273,800±$36kHighest 8% below ME |
| Waterford and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$358Highest about the ME average |
— | $870±$405Lowest 24% below ME |
| Smithfield and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,866 6% below ME |
$3,132Highest 3% above ME |
$1,917Lowest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.6%±34 ME: 48.4% |
| 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% ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 32% above ME |
26 minLowest 6% above ME |
34 minHighest 40% above ME |
| Work from home | 22%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Perry and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Perry Public Schools | 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 |
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.