Compare towns
Surry vs Appleton vs Chapman vs Lovell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Surry has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
Appleton has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Lovell has the most people working from home (21.8%).
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 | Surry | Appleton | Chapman | Lovell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,836Highest |
1,360 |
388Lowest |
1,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
45.7±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
52.2±3.5 17% above ME |
| Surry and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.4%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.5%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
6.3%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Lovell and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,508±$12k about the ME average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$80,625±$20k 8% above ME |
| Chapman and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,300±$36kHighest about the ME average |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
$295,000±$47k about the ME average |
| Surry and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— | $1,419±$178Highest 25% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,903 37% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,850 39% below ME |
$1,480Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.3%±29.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
31 minHighest 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Lovell 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 | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 72/MSAD 72 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.