Compare towns
Surry vs Brooklin vs Penobscot
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%).
Brooklin has the most expensive homes ($339k median).
Penobscot has the most kids (18% 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.
| Measure | Surry | Brooklin | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836Highest |
869Lowest |
1,154 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.4% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
49.2±3.7Lowest 10% above ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
| Penobscot 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% |
16.3%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Penobscot and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Surry 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% |
41.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1 ME: 5.8% |
7.2%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,508±$12kHighest about the ME average |
$68,750±$8k 8% below ME |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
| Surry and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,300±$36kLowest about the ME average |
$339,400±$90kHighest 14% above ME |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
| Brooklin and Penobscot 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 |
$1,236±$137Highest 9% above ME |
$1,141±$33 about the ME average |
| Brooklin and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,903Highest 37% below ME |
$1,792Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
29.5%±25Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot 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% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.4% ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
26 min 4% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Surry Public Schools | Brooklin Public Schools | Penobscot Public Schools |
| 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 |
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.