Compare towns
Newcastle vs Surry vs Union
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%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% 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 | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,913 |
1,836Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±7 10% above ME |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% 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% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±1.4 ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
38.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Newcastle and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,868±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Newcastle and Union 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±$36k about the ME average |
$267,600±$42kLowest 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,363±$81Highest 20% above ME |
$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Newcastle and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,256Highest 40% above ME |
$1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.8%±16.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Surry and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 30% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.2%±4.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Newcastle and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Surry Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school 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.