What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hancock has the most renters (18.9% rent).

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	Hancock
People
Population	1,836Lowest	2,518Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	+3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.4±5.6Lowest 17% above ME	56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME
	Hancock 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%	13.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Surry and Hancock 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%	30.2%±7Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Surry and Hancock 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%	34.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.5%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Hancock 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	$72,285±$5kLowest 3% below ME
	Surry and Hancock 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	$276,800±$51kLowest 7% below ME
	Surry and Hancock 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	$1,171±$65Highest about the ME average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,903Highest 37% below ME	$1,869Lowest 38% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4%	42%±15.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Surry and Hancock 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%	8.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	81.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987 10 yrs newer than ME	1987 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 26% above ME	29 minLowest 18% above ME
Work from home	11.4%±5Highest ME: 15.9%	5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Surry and Hancock 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	—	#117 of 133 in ME
School district	Surry Public Schools	Hancock 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.