Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Surry vs Upton
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).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Surry | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
1,836Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.4±5.6Highest 35% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Surry and Upton 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% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
30.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth and Upton 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. |
$74,508±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$296,300±$36k 11% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Highest 28% below U.S. |
$969±$129 31% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Ellsworth and Surry 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. |
$1,903Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±59.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Lowest 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 133 in ME | — | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Surry Public Schools | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.