Compare towns

Mapleton vs Surry vs Mount Desert vs Newburgh

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Mount Desert has the most expensive homes ($522k 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.

MeasureMapletonSurryMount DesertNewburgh
People
Population
1,884Highest
1,836
1,671
1,475Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+11.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+4.5%
ME: +2.6%
+2.8%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
52.4±5.6
17% above ME
54.9±8.2Highest
23% above ME
45.8±5.7
about the ME average
Mount Desert and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
16.6%±3.7
ME: 18.1%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
18.8%±3.6
ME: 18.1%
Mapleton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.3%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
30.9%±3.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
29.1%±4.9
ME: 22.4%
21.4%±2.4
ME: 22.4%
Surry and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.3%
ME: 36.2%
38.1%
ME: 36.2%
64.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
29.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
2%±1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.9%±4.1
ME: 5.8%
4.3%±2.7
ME: 5.8%
Mapleton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,731±$25k
23% above ME
$74,508±$12kLowest
about the ME average
$92,813±$9kHighest
24% above ME
$76,750±$10k
about the ME average
Mount Desert and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$191,800±$23kLowest
35% below ME
$296,300±$36k
about the ME average
$522,100±$66kHighest
76% above ME
$244,600±$20k
18% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
$969±$129
15% below ME
$1,341±$89Highest
18% above ME
$950±$219
17% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,789Lowest
41% below ME
$1,903
37% below ME
$3,512Highest
16% above ME
$2,748
9% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
65.8%±59.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
33.9%±31.5
ME: 48.4%
42.9%±13.9
ME: 48.4%
Surry and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%
ME: 10.7%
7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
7.4%
ME: 10.7%
11.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
88.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
84.8%
ME: 74.3%
81.2%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
same as ME
1987Highest
10 yrs newer than ME
1969Lowest
8 yrs older than ME
1985
8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
13% above ME
31 minHighest
26% above ME
18 minLowest
27% below ME
30 min
23% above ME
Work from home
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
11.4%±5
ME: 15.9%
19.1%±9.8Highest
ME: 15.9%
6.4%±3.3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Mount Desert and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district RSU 79/MSAD 01 Surry Public Schools Mount Desert Public Schools —
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 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.