Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Fairfield 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 renters (33.3% rent).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Surry has the most people working from home (11.4%).
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 | Fairfield | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
1,938 |
1,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
52.4±5.6Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield 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% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth and Fairfield 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. |
$87,019±$22kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$74,508±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Fairfield 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. |
$320,600±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$296,300±$36k 11% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195 28% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441Highest 25% below U.S. |
$969±$129Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Fairfield 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. |
$4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
$1,903Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest 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% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Surry and Fairfield 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 | — | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Surry Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.