Compare towns

Rome 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).
Brooklin has the most people working from home (16.5%).
Surry has the most affordable homes ($296k 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.

MeasureRomeBrooklinSurry
People
Population
1,215
869Lowest
1,836Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.7%Highest
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±3.7
10% above ME
52.4±5.6Highest
17% above ME
Surry and Brooklin 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%
16.3%±4.2Lowest
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%
24.7%±3.2Lowest
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%
41.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
38.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±4.8
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
$68,750±$8kLowest
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
$339,400±$90kHighest
14% above ME
$296,300±$36kLowest
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
$1,236±$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
$1,792Lowest
41% below ME
$1,903Highest
37% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±59.8
ME: 48.4%
29.5%±25Lowest
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%
7.7%
ME: 10.7%
7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
84.4%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
88.6%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
9 yrs newer than ME
1980Lowest
3 yrs newer than ME
1987Highest
10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
21% above ME
26 minLowest
4% above ME
31 minHighest
26% above ME
Work from home
7.4%±3.8Lowest
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 — Brooklin Public Schools 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.