Compare towns
Phippsburg vs Wayne vs Hancock vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Phippsburg has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($277k 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 | Phippsburg | Wayne | Hancock | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,238 |
1,101Lowest |
2,518Highest |
1,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.3±6.3 21% above ME |
55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME |
52.4±5.6Lowest 17% above ME |
| Hancock and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Surry and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±7 ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Phippsburg and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,833±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$72,285±$5kLowest 3% below ME |
$74,508±$12k about the ME average |
| Phippsburg and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,800±$47k 13% above ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$276,800±$51kLowest 7% below ME |
$296,300±$36k about the ME average |
| Wayne and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,022±$346 10% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$1,171±$65Highest about the ME average |
$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
| Hancock and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,034 33% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$1,869Lowest 38% below ME |
$1,903 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.5%±98.7 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42%±15.5 ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Surry and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.7%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #117 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | RSU 38 | Hancock Public Schools | Surry Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.