What stands out worked out from the figures below

Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

East Machias has the shortest commute (18 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Surry	East Machias
People
Population	1,836Highest	1,223Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME	42.8±2.9Lowest 4% below ME
Kids under 18	16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.3%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	East Machias 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%	19.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	33.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	East Machias and Surry 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	$57,589±$10kLowest 23% below ME
	Surry and East Machias 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	$210,800±$23kLowest 29% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$969±$129Highest 15% below ME	$907±$566Lowest 20% below ME
	Surry and East Machias 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	$1,836Lowest 40% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4%	56.4%±40.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Surry and East Machias 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%	15.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	83.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 26% above ME	18 minLowest 28% below ME
Work from home	11.4%±5Highest ME: 15.9%	4.1%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Surry and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Surry Public Schools	East Machias Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.