Compare towns
Lovell vs Smithfield 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 youngest population (median age 52.2).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Smithfield | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,353 |
856Lowest |
1,836Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.2±3.5Lowest 17% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
| Smithfield and Surry 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% |
10%±3.5Lowest 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%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Smithfield 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% |
34.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lovell and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,625±$20k 8% above ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average |
| Smithfield and Lovell 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 |
$242,800±$15kLowest 18% 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 |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
| Lovell and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,480Lowest 51% below ME |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
$1,903 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±29.3 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Surry and Lovell 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 28% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
31 minLowest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.8%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 72/MSAD 72 | — | Surry Public Schools |
| High school 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.