Compare towns
Smyrna vs Appleton vs Oakfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smyrna has the most kids (33.2% under 18).
Appleton has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Oakfield has the oldest population (median age 57.7).
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 | Smyrna | Appleton | Oakfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 380Lowest |
1,360Highest |
629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 31±9.6Lowest 31% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
57.7±6.3Highest 29% above ME |
| Oakfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 33.2%±5.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 10.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
36.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Oakfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
10.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Oakfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,750±$19kHighest 23% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$46,378±$3kLowest 38% below ME |
| Smyrna and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $117,100±$10kLowest 61% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$144,300±$46k 51% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $425±$63Lowest 63% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$592±$261 48% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,200Lowest 60% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,272 58% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.6%±13.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Oakfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
69.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 37% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
19 min 25% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.4%±6.1 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Smyrna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| 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.