Compare towns
Newcastle vs Surry vs Alna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newcastle has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Alna has the most kids (32.9% under 18).
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 | Newcastle | Surry | Alna |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,913Highest |
1,836 |
818Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±7 10% above ME |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME |
| Surry and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±1.4 ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
38.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Newcastle and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,868±$33k 20% above ME |
$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average |
$93,125±$16kHighest 25% above ME |
| Alna and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,000±$41kHighest 34% above ME |
$296,300±$36kLowest about the ME average |
$367,400±$55k 24% above ME |
| Newcastle and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,363±$81Highest 20% above ME |
$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
$1,088±$176 4% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,256Highest 40% above ME |
$1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
$3,667 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.8%±16.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±70.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Surry and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% ME: 10.7% |
7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 30% below ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.2%±4.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.4%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Newcastle and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Surry Public Schools | — |
| High school 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.