Compare towns
Rome vs Augusta 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
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 | Augusta | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,215Lowest |
19,077Highest |
1,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±9.2 8% above ME |
42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
| Surry and Rome 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% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Rome and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±9.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Rome and Augusta 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 |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% 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±$36kHighest 11% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$296,300±$36k about the ME average |
| Rome and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$56Highest about the ME average |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$969±$129 15% below ME |
| Rome and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,829Lowest 40% below ME |
$2,465Highest 19% below ME |
$1,903 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±59.8 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Surry and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
| Augusta and Surry 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 | — | #119 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Surry Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Cony | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9 |
— |
| 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.