Compare towns
Jay vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
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 | Jay | Surry |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
1,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Jay and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19kLowest 6% below ME |
$74,508±$12kHighest about the ME average |
| Surry and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$296,300±$36kHighest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$969±$129Highest 15% below ME |
| Surry and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245Highest 26% below ME |
$1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Surry and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Surry and Jay 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 | #86 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | Surry Public Schools |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.