Compare towns
Rome vs Unity 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).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Surry has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,215Lowest |
1,858Highest |
1,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±9.2 8% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% 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% |
14%±3.6Lowest 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%±9.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest 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% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.8 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,639±$25kHighest 4% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% 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 |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% 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 |
$873±$73Lowest 23% 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 |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,903 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±59.8 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Lowest 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Surry Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.