Compare towns

Hampden vs Surry vs Bangor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the highest household income ($112k).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Bangor has the most renters (52.8% rent).

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.

MeasureHampdenSurryBangor
People
Population
5,161
1,836Lowest
31,938Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%
ME: +2.6%
+11.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-3.9%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
41.1±6.3
8% below ME
52.4±5.6Highest
17% above ME
41±1.3Lowest
8% below ME
Surry and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.3%±7.8Highest
ME: 18.1%
16.6%±3.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
16.7%±1.7
ME: 18.1%
Hampden and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.6%±4.4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
30.9%±3.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
19.9%±1.9
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.9%Highest
ME: 36.2%
38.1%
ME: 36.2%
35.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.3
ME: 5.8%
2%±1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
10.4%±1.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,228±$22kHighest
50% above ME
$74,508±$12k
about the ME average
$59,942±$7kLowest
20% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$285,900±$33k
4% below ME
$296,300±$36kHighest
about the ME average
$219,600±$10kLowest
26% below ME
Surry and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,133±$375Highest
about the ME average
$969±$129Lowest
15% below ME
$1,055±$43
7% below ME
Hampden and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,863Highest
27% above ME
$1,903Lowest
37% below ME
$3,076
about the ME average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.2%±18Lowest
ME: 48.4%
65.8%±59.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
51.5%±6.5
ME: 48.4%
Surry and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.7%
ME: 10.7%
7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
17.9%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.6%
ME: 74.3%
88.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
47.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
5 yrs newer than ME
1987Highest
10 yrs newer than ME
1954Lowest
23 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
9% below ME
31 minHighest
26% above ME
17 minLowest
33% below ME
Work from home
16.1%±6Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.4%±5
ME: 15.9%
10.1%±2.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Hampden 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 #6 of 133 in ME — #37 of 133 in ME
School district — Surry Public Schools Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4
High school in town — None in town Bangor High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
13.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.