Compare towns
Smithfield vs Unity 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%).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Otis has the most kids (16.6% under 18).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 856 |
1,858Highest |
705Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% 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% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±7.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Otis and Unity 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Otis 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% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below 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±$15k 18% below ME |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$282,500±$23kHighest 5% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$358 about the ME average |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
| Otis 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 |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$2,263Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Unity 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 32% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
| Work from home | 22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Otis Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.