What stands out worked out from the figures below

Owls Head has the shortest commute (16 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Owls Head	Surry
People
Population	1,482Lowest	1,836Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.6±6.6Highest 17% above ME	52.4±5.6Lowest 17% above ME
	Owls Head and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	16.6%±3.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Surry and Owls Head are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.9%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4%	30.9%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Owls Head and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.4%Highest ME: 36.2%	38.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%	2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Owls Head and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,325±$7kHighest 17% above ME	$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average
	Owls Head and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$413,300±$43kHighest 39% above ME	$296,300±$36kLowest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,191±$386Highest 5% above ME	$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME
	Owls Head and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,981Highest about the ME average	$1,903Lowest 37% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.9%±51.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Surry and Owls Head are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	88.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	16 minLowest 34% below ME	31 minHighest 26% above ME
Work from home	13.3%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9%	11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Owls Head and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 13	Surry Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.