Compare towns
Cushing vs Penobscot vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Penobscot has the most kids (18% under 18).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Cushing | Penobscot | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,460 |
1,154Lowest |
1,836Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±7.7Lowest 9% above ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
| Penobscot and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Penobscot and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cushing and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
$74,508±$12k about the ME average |
| Cushing and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
$296,300±$36kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$1,141±$33 about the ME average |
$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
$1,903 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 5% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 13 | Penobscot Public Schools | Surry Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.