Compare towns
Surry vs Appleton vs Ellsworth vs Mount Desert
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Ellsworth has the most renters (33.3% rent).
Mount Desert has the most expensive homes ($522k 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.
| Measure | Surry | Appleton | Ellsworth | Mount Desert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,836 |
1,360Lowest |
8,657Highest |
1,671 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+8.5% ME: +2.6% |
+4.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME |
54.9±8.2Highest 23% above ME |
| Mount Desert and Surry 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%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Ellsworth and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
39.3% ME: 36.2% |
64.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±4.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Mount Desert 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 |
$77,375±$18k 4% above ME |
$92,813±$9kHighest 24% above ME |
| Mount Desert and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,300±$36k about the ME average |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$242,300±$22k 18% below ME |
$522,100±$66kHighest 76% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,017±$195 11% below ME |
$1,341±$89Highest 18% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,262 7% above ME |
$3,512 16% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7 ME: 48.4% |
33.9%±31.5Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
7.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.1%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Mount Desert and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #63 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Surry Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | Ellsworth Public Schools | Mount Desert Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.