Compare towns
Smithfield vs Sumner vs Denmark
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).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Denmark has the most expensive homes ($250k median).
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 | Sumner | Denmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 856 |
845Lowest |
1,054Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±3.5 25% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
54.4±5Lowest 21% above ME |
| Sumner and Smithfield 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% |
17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Sumner and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Denmark 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 |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$64,167±$10k 14% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$250,000±$68kHighest 16% below ME |
| Denmark and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$358Lowest about the ME average |
— | $1,409±$207Highest 24% above ME |
| Denmark 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 |
$2,167Lowest 29% below ME |
$2,259 26% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±45.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
90.6%±31 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Denmark 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 32% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±6.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 10 | — |
| High school 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.