Compare towns
Surry vs Lancaster vs Ellsworth
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Ellsworth has the most renters (33.3% 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.
| Measure | Surry | Lancaster | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836Lowest |
8,606 |
8,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6Highest 35% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Surry and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth and Lancaster 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 8% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,300±$36k 11% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $969±$129Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,017±$195 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,903Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,262 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Surry Public Schools | Nashoba | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.