Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Dedham vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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 | Ellsworth | Dedham | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657 |
25,237Highest |
1,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
52.4±5.6Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$74,508±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$296,300±$36k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195 28% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$969±$129Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 5% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$1,903Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±59.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Surry and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Dedham | Surry Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.