Compare towns
Ellsworth vs North Berwick vs Ogunquit vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellsworth has the most renters (33.3% rent).
North Berwick has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | North Berwick | Ogunquit | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
5,129 |
1,379Lowest |
1,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 4% below ME |
41.6±4.7Lowest 7% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
21.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
| North Berwick 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 ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% ME: 36.2% |
29%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
38.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and North Berwick 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% above ME |
$101,875±$16k 36% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average |
| Ogunquit and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME |
$428,500±$33k 44% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$296,300±$36k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195 11% below ME |
$1,105±$116Highest about the ME average |
— | $969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
| North Berwick and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 7% above ME |
$3,735 23% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7 ME: 48.4% |
66.2%±28.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
| North Berwick and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.7% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 133 in ME | #82 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | — | Surry Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | Noble High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.0Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.