Compare towns
Surry vs Canton vs Ellsworth
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).
Canton has the most people working from home (16.1%).
Ellsworth has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Canton | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836 |
1,191Lowest |
8,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3% ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
41.4±7.2Lowest 8% below ME |
43±2.4 4% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Canton and Ellsworth 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%±6.6 ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Canton 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% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
39.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Canton 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 |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
$77,375±$18kHighest 4% above ME |
| Ellsworth 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 |
$165,000±$50kLowest 44% below ME |
$242,300±$22k 18% below ME |
| Surry and Ellsworth 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 |
$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,017±$195Highest 11% below ME |
| Ellsworth and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
$2,277 25% below ME |
$3,262Highest 7% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton 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% |
8.4% ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.4% ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Canton 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 | — | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.