Compare towns
Surry vs Exeter vs Lovell
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%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Lovell has the most people working from home (21.8%).
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 | Exeter | Lovell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836Highest |
1,093Lowest |
1,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
52.2±3.5Lowest 17% above ME |
| Exeter 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.4%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Surry and Lovell 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% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.5%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Lovell 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
6.3%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Lovell and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$80,625±$20k 8% above ME |
| Exeter and Lovell 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 |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$295,000±$47k about the ME average |
| Surry and Lovell 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 |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$1,419±$178Highest 25% above ME |
| Lovell and Exeter 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 |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,480Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.3%±29.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Surry and Lovell 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% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
10%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 26% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
31 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Lovell 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 72/MSAD 72 |
| High school 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.