Compare towns
Rome vs Lee 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%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($175k median).
Surry has the most renters (11.4% rent).
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 | Lee | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,215 |
925Lowest |
1,836Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±9.2Lowest 8% above ME |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
| Surry and Lee 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% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Lee 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% |
24.5%±4.9Lowest 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% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Rome and Lee 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 |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% 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 |
$174,500±$25kLowest 41% 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 |
— | $969±$129Lowest 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 | $1,829 40% below ME |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
$1,903Highest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±59.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Surry 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% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 21% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
| Lee and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | 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.