Compare towns
Surry vs Dresden 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($240k 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.
| Measure | Surry | Dresden | Deer Isle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836 |
1,645Lowest |
2,470Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6Lowest 17% above ME |
55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
52.6±5.6 17% above ME |
| Dresden and Deer Isle 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% |
17%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Dresden 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% |
24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Dresden 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% |
30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Dresden 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±$12k about the ME average |
$74,844±$22kHighest about the ME average |
$62,284±$15kLowest 17% below ME |
| Dresden 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±$36k about the ME average |
$240,100±$29kLowest 19% 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 |
$1,194±$502 5% above ME |
$1,909±$927Highest 68% above ME |
| Deer Isle and Dresden 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 |
$2,500Highest 18% below ME |
$1,890Lowest 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
85.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
20 minLowest 17% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest 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 | RSU 02 | Deer Isle-Stonington CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Deer Isle-Stonington High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.