Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Topsham 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).
Topsham has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Topsham | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657 |
9,706Highest |
1,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
| Surry and Topsham 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% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Topsham 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% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
38.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Topsham 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 |
$91,028±$10kHighest 22% above ME |
$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average |
| Topsham 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 18% below ME |
$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME |
$296,300±$36k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195 11% below ME |
$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
| Topsham 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 |
$4,259Highest 40% above ME |
$1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7 ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
| Topsham and Surry 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Surry Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.