Compare towns

Surry vs Baldwin vs Deer Isle

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 kids (16.6% under 18).
Baldwin has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
Deer Isle has the most people working from home (22%).

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.

MeasureSurryBaldwinDeer Isle
People
Population
1,836
1,170Lowest
2,470Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-0.3%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+11.1%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
52.4±5.6
17% above ME
50.6±4.6Lowest
13% above ME
52.6±5.6Highest
17% above ME
Deer Isle and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.6%±3.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
12.1%±3Lowest
ME: 18.1%
14.7%±3.3
ME: 18.1%
Surry and Deer Isle 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%
27.7%±3.5
ME: 22.4%
24.8%±3.3Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Surry and Baldwin 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%
23.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
35.9%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.3%±2.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.5%±1.4
ME: 5.8%
Baldwin and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,508±$12kHighest
about the ME average
$68,045±$8k
9% below ME
$62,284±$15kLowest
17% below ME
Surry and Baldwin 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
$263,200±$38kLowest
11% below ME
$308,300±$42kHighest
4% above ME
Deer Isle and Surry 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
—
$1,909±$927Highest
68% above ME
Deer Isle and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,903
37% below ME
$2,540Highest
16% below ME
$1,890Lowest
38% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65.8%±59.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±42.9Lowest
ME: 48.4%
25.4%±17.9
ME: 48.4%
Surry and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7%
ME: 10.7%
6.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
19.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.6%
ME: 74.3%
89%Highest
ME: 74.3%
85.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
10 yrs newer than ME
1979
2 yrs newer than ME
1976Lowest
1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
26% above ME
32 minHighest
32% above ME
20 minLowest
17% below ME
Work from home
11.4%±5
ME: 15.9%
8.8%±4.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
22%±9.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
Deer Isle 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 — Deer Isle-Stonington CSD
High school in town None in town — Deer Isle-Stonington High Sch
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.0
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.