Compare towns
Rome vs Belgrade 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%).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
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 | Belgrade | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,215Lowest |
3,351Highest |
1,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±9.2 8% above ME |
47.3±14.6Lowest 6% above 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%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Belgrade and Rome 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% |
23.9%±6.4Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
38.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade 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±$25k 4% above ME |
$88,338±$13kHighest 18% above ME |
$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average |
| Belgrade and Rome 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 |
$312,200±$44k 5% above ME |
$296,300±$36kLowest about the ME average |
| Rome and Belgrade 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 |
$857±$108Lowest 25% 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 |
$2,859Highest 6% below ME |
$1,903 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±59.8 ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade 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 | — | #71 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 18 | Surry Public Schools |
| High school 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.