Compare towns
Smithfield vs Sumner vs Friendship
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Friendship has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Friendship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 856 |
845Lowest |
1,213Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±3.5 25% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
55.5±6.9Lowest 24% 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% |
15.3%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Sumner and Friendship 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% |
37.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Friendship 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% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
39.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.8%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Smithfield and Sumner 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 |
$75,625±$22k about the ME average |
| Smithfield and Friendship 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 |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$275,000±$56kHighest 7% below ME |
| Friendship 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 |
— | $1,370±$53Highest 20% above ME |
| Friendship 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 |
$2,218 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±42.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Smithfield 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% |
10%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 32% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
17.9%±7.4Lowest 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.