Compare towns

Rome vs Wayne 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).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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.

MeasureRomeWayneSurry
People
Population
1,215
1,101Lowest
1,836Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.7%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+11.3%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
48.3±9.2Lowest
8% above ME
55.6±5.3Highest
24% above ME
52.4±5.6
17% above ME
Wayne and Surry 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%
13.4%±3.9Lowest
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%
29.2%±3.8
ME: 22.4%
30.9%±3.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
Surry and Wayne 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%
48.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
38.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±4.8
ME: 5.8%
6.5%±2.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
2%±1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Wayne 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
$93,194±$26kHighest
25% above ME
$74,508±$12kLowest
about the ME average
Wayne 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±$36k
11% above ME
$362,800±$29kHighest
22% above ME
$296,300±$36kLowest
about the ME average
Wayne and Rome 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
$983±$554
14% below ME
$969±$129Lowest
15% below ME
Rome and Wayne 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
$3,289Highest
8% above ME
$1,903
37% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±59.8
ME: 48.4%
25%±52.1Lowest
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%
7.9%
ME: 10.7%
7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
89.9%
ME: 74.3%
88.6%Lowest
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 minLowest
21% above ME
30 min
24% above ME
31 minHighest
26% above ME
Work from home
7.4%±3.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
26.2%±11.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.4%±5
ME: 15.9%
Wayne and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — RSU 38 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.