Compare towns
Penobscot vs Strong vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
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 | Penobscot | Strong | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,154Lowest |
1,249 |
1,836Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
| Penobscot and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.4% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Strong and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$74,508±$12kHighest about the ME average |
| Surry and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$296,300±$36k about the ME average |
| Penobscot and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
$969±$129 15% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
$1,950Highest 36% below ME |
$1,903 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Surry Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.