Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Epping vs Surry vs Brewer
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).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Surry has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Epping | Surry | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657 |
7,430 |
1,836Lowest |
9,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
52.4±5.6Highest 35% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Surry and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer 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. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$74,508±$12k 8% below U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$296,300±$36k 11% below U.S. |
$245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195 28% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$969±$129Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 5% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$1,903Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$3,374 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±59.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 133 in ME | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Epping School District | Surry Public Schools | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | Epping High School | None in town | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
9.3Lowest |
— | 14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | 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.