Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Dover 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).
Dover has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Surry has the most homeowners (88.6%).
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 | Dover | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657 |
33,364Highest |
1,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
52.4±5.6Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ellsworth and Dover 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$74,508±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Dover and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$296,300±$36k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195 28% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$969±$129Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 5% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$1,903Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Dover School District | Surry Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.