Compare towns
Jefferson vs Surry vs Levant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Levant has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Jefferson | Surry | Levant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,647 |
1,836Lowest |
3,069Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
39.7±2.2 11% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.1%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6% ME: 36.2% |
38.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average |
$86,071±$22kHighest 15% above ME |
| Levant and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$296,300±$36k about the ME average |
$268,500±$27kLowest 9% below ME |
| Jefferson and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130 about the ME average |
$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
$1,370±$120Highest 20% above ME |
| Levant and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587Highest 15% below ME |
$1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
$2,580 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
45.7%±14 ME: 48.4% |
| Surry and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7% ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±5.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Surry and Jefferson 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 | #45 of 133 in ME | — | #124 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Jefferson Public Schools | Surry Public Schools | RSU 87/MSAD 23 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.