Compare towns

Deer Isle vs Casco vs Surry

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deer Isle has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Casco has the most people working from home (26.6%).
Surry has the most kids (16.6% under 18).

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.

MeasureDeer IsleCascoSurry
People
Population
2,470
3,696Highest
1,836Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.1%
ME: +2.6%
-2.6%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+11.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
52.6±5.6Highest
17% above ME
52±3.3Lowest
16% above ME
52.4±5.6
17% above ME
Deer Isle and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.7%±3.3
ME: 18.1%
11.3%±3.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
16.6%±3.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
Surry and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.8%±3.3Lowest
ME: 22.4%
26.3%±7.8
ME: 22.4%
30.9%±3.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
Surry and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.9%
ME: 36.2%
32.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
38.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.4
ME: 5.8%
4.4%±2.5Highest
ME: 5.8%
2%±1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Casco and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,284±$15kLowest
17% below ME
$69,313±$19k
7% below ME
$74,508±$12kHighest
about the ME average
Surry and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$308,300±$42k
4% above ME
$355,500±$58kHighest
20% above ME
$296,300±$36kLowest
about the ME average
Casco and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,909±$927Highest
68% above ME
$1,395±$184
22% above ME
$969±$129Lowest
15% below ME
Deer Isle and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,890Lowest
38% below ME
$3,085Highest
about the ME average
$1,903
37% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.4%±17.9Lowest
ME: 48.4%
39.7%±35.5
ME: 48.4%
65.8%±59.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
Surry and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
11%
ME: 10.7%
7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
90%Highest
ME: 74.3%
88.6%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
1 yr older than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1987
10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
17% below ME
30 min
23% above ME
31 minHighest
26% above ME
Work from home
22%±9.5
ME: 15.9%
26.6%±10Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.4%±5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Casco and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Deer Isle-Stonington CSD RSU 61/MSAD 61 Surry Public Schools
High school in town Deer Isle-Stonington High Sch None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
8.0
— —
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.