Compare towns

Smithfield vs Surry vs Rome

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the most people working from home (22%).
Surry has the most renters (11.4% rent).
Rome has the most kids (21.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureSmithfieldSurryRome
People
Population
856Lowest
1,836Highest
1,215
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-10.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+11.3%
ME: +2.6%
+13.7%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
55.8±3.5Highest
25% above ME
52.4±5.6
17% above ME
48.3±9.2Lowest
8% above ME
Smithfield and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
10%±3.5Lowest
ME: 18.1%
16.6%±3.7
ME: 18.1%
21.4%±6.3Highest
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+
29.7%±3.5
ME: 22.4%
30.9%±3.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
24.7%±9.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Surry and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
38.1%
ME: 36.2%
39.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±1.9
ME: 5.8%
2%±1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.2%±4.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
Rome and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,917±$27kHighest
44% above ME
$74,508±$12kLowest
about the ME average
$77,639±$25k
4% above ME
Smithfield and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,800±$15kLowest
18% below ME
$296,300±$36k
about the ME average
$329,300±$36kHighest
11% above ME
Rome and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,109±$358
about the ME average
$969±$129Lowest
15% below ME
$1,150±$56Highest
about the ME average
Rome and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,866Highest
6% below ME
$1,903
37% below ME
$1,829Lowest
40% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±45.2Lowest
ME: 48.4%
65.8%±59.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
54.2%±59.8
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
5.8%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
7%
ME: 10.7%
10.3%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.9%
ME: 74.3%
88.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
91.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Lowest
6 yrs newer than ME
1987Highest
10 yrs newer than ME
1986
9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
32% above ME
31 min
26% above ME
30 minLowest
21% above ME
Work from home
22%±7.2Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.4%±5
ME: 15.9%
7.4%±3.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Smithfield and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Surry Public Schools —
High school 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.