Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Ogunquit vs Gorham 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 affordable homes ($242k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Gorham | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657 |
1,379Lowest |
18,300Highest |
1,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 4% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
38.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$18k 4% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$112,312±$6k 50% above ME |
$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average |
| Ogunquit and Gorham 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
$296,300±$36k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195 11% below ME |
— | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 7% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| 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 ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
26 min 7% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 133 in ME | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | — | Gorham Public Schools | Surry Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | — | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | 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.