Compare towns
Penobscot vs Surry vs Clifton
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 most people working from home (17.7%).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Clifton has the most affordable homes ($203k 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.
| Measure | Penobscot | Surry | Clifton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,154 |
1,836Highest |
1,111Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
52.4±5.6Lowest 17% above ME |
52.7±7.1 18% above ME |
| Penobscot and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
16%±7.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Penobscot and Surry 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% |
30.9%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±7.1Lowest 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% |
38.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1 ME: 5.8% |
8.6%±8.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Clifton 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±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
$74,508±$12kHighest about the ME average |
$70,313±$16k 6% below ME |
| Surry and Clifton 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 |
$296,300±$36k about the ME average |
$202,500±$67kLowest 32% below ME |
| 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±$33 about the ME average |
$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
$1,217±$624Highest 7% above ME |
| Clifton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,852 39% below ME |
$1,903Highest 37% below ME |
$1,838Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
81.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Clifton and Penobscot 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% |
7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
29 min 19% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Penobscot Public Schools | Surry Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None 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.