Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Douglas 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Douglas | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657 |
9,207Highest |
1,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
52.4±5.6Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$74,508±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$296,300±$36k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195 28% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$969±$129Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 5% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$1,903Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 133 in ME | #177 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Douglas | Surry Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
7.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.