Compare towns
Surry vs Gorham 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 the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k 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 | Gorham | Lovell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836 |
18,300Highest |
1,353Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
52.2±3.5 17% above ME |
| Surry and Lovell 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% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
6.3%±4.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$80,625±$20k 8% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,300±$36k about the ME average |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$295,000±$47kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,419±$178 25% above ME |
| Gorham and Lovell 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 |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$1,480Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
31 minHighest 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
21.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Lovell and Gorham 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Surry Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 72/MSAD 72 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.