Compare towns
Surry vs Lee vs Penobscot
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%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($175k median).
Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Lee | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836Highest |
925Lowest |
1,154 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
51.5±11.5Lowest 15% above ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
| Penobscot and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Surry 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% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee 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 |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
| Surry and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,300±$36k about the ME average |
$174,500±$25kLowest 41% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
| Penobscot and Surry 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 |
— | $1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,903Highest 37% below ME |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Penobscot 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% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
16% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Surry Public Schools | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.