Compare towns
Surry vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Orland
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%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Orland has the most people working from home (17%).
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 | Mapleton | Appleton | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,836 |
1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
1,915Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
50.6±4.2 13% above ME |
| Surry and Orland 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Orland 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
31.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Orland and Mapleton 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 about the ME average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
| Mapleton 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±$36kHighest about the ME average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$277,100±$20k 7% below ME |
| Surry and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $969±$129 15% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,149±$177Highest about the ME average |
| Orland and Appleton 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,089 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Surry 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Orland and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Surry Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton 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 | 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.