Compare towns
Rome vs Appleton vs Brooklin vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rome has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Brooklin has the most people working from home (16.5%).
Surry has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
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 | Rome | Appleton | Brooklin | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,215 |
1,360 |
869Lowest |
1,836Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+0.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±9.2Lowest 8% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
49.2±3.7 10% above ME |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
| Surry and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Rome and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±9.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
38.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
7.2%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooklin and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,639±$25kHighest 4% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$68,750±$8k 8% below ME |
$74,508±$12k about the ME average |
| Rome and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,300±$36k 11% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$339,400±$90kHighest 14% above ME |
$296,300±$36k about the ME average |
| Brooklin and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$56 about the ME average |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,236±$137Highest 9% above ME |
$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
| Brooklin and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,829 40% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,792Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,903 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±59.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.5%±25Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.4% ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
26 minLowest 4% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
16.5%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
| Brooklin and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | Brooklin Public Schools | 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 | 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.