Compare towns
Lovell vs Appleton vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lovell has the most people working from home (21.8%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Lovell | Appleton | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,353Lowest |
1,360 |
1,836Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.2±3.5 17% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
| Surry and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Surry and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lovell and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,625±$20kHighest 8% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$74,508±$12k about the ME average |
| Lovell and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$47k about the ME average |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$296,300±$36kHighest about the ME average |
| Surry and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,419±$178Highest 25% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,480Lowest 51% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,903 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±29.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 28% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
| Lovell and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 72/MSAD 72 | Appleton Public Schools | Surry Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.