Compare towns
Surry vs Mapleton vs Penobscot vs Lovell
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 affordable homes ($192k median).
Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Lovell has the most people working from home (21.8%).
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 | Penobscot | Lovell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,836 |
1,884Highest |
1,154Lowest |
1,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
52.2±3.5 17% 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%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.5%±3.9 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.3%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Lovell 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 |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
$80,625±$20k 8% above ME |
| Mapleton and Lovell 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$295,000±$47k 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±$129 15% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,141±$33 about the ME average |
$1,419±$178Highest 25% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,903Highest 37% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
$1,480Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
45.3%±29.3 ME: 48.4% |
| 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 ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
31 minHighest 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
21.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Lovell 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 72/MSAD 72 |
| High school in town | None 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.