Compare towns
Smithfield vs Union vs Otis
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 most people working from home (22%).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Otis has the most expensive homes ($283k 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 | Union | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 856 |
2,663Highest |
705Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
54.7±3.1 22% above ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±7.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Union 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 |
$80,724±$9kLowest 8% above ME |
$101,250±$27k 35% above ME |
| Smithfield and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,800±$15kLowest 18% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$282,500±$23kHighest 5% below ME |
| Otis and Union 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 |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
| Otis and Union 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 |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$2,263Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Smithfield and Otis 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% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 32% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
| Work from home | 22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | 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 |
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.