Compare towns
East Machias vs Mapleton vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
East Machias has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | East Machias | Mapleton | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,223Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±2.9 4% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| East Machias and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
38.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,589±$10kLowest 23% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$74,508±$12k about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,800±$23k 29% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$296,300±$36kHighest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $907±$566 20% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$969±$129Highest 15% below ME |
| Surry and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,836 40% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,903Highest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±40.3 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Surry and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 28% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.1%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Surry and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | East Machias Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Surry Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.