Compare towns
Surry vs Augusta 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Augusta has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Augusta | Lovell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836 |
19,077Highest |
1,353Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
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% |
18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Augusta 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% |
21.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.5%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Lovell 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% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
6.3%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Lovell and Augusta 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 |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$80,625±$20kHighest 8% above ME |
| Lovell and Surry 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 |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% 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±$129 15% below ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,419±$178Highest 25% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,903 37% below ME |
$2,465Highest 19% below ME |
$1,480Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
45.3%±29.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Surry and Augusta 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% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
31 minHighest 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
21.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Lovell and Augusta 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 | — | #119 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Surry Public Schools | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 72/MSAD 72 |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9 |
— |
| 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.