Compare towns
Eliot vs Ogunquit vs Surry vs Whitefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Whitefield has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Eliot | Ogunquit | Surry | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
1,379Lowest |
1,836 |
2,157 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3% ME: +2.6% |
+4.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Lowest 13% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
51.9±5.2 16% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.6%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Whitefield and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
38.1% ME: 36.2% |
32.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 36% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$74,508±$12k about the ME average |
$73,875±$10kLowest about the ME average |
| Ogunquit and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 68% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$296,300±$36k about the ME average |
$242,300±$24kLowest 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
— | $969±$129 15% below ME |
$895±$126Lowest 21% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Highest 50% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
$2,366 22% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±22.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Surry and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7% ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 9% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Surry Public Schools | RSU 12 |
| 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 | 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.