Compare towns
Surry vs Hampton Beach vs Penobscot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Surry has the most homeowners (88.6%).
Hampton Beach has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Penobscot has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Hampton Beach | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836 |
2,605Highest |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6Lowest 35% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7 37% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Penobscot and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Penobscot 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Penobscot 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 8% below U.S. |
$82,557±$17kHighest about the U.S. average |
$63,194±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach 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±$36kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $969±$129Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,903 39% below U.S. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Penobscot and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Surry Public Schools | — | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.