Compare towns

Surry vs Millinocket vs Blue Hill

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%).
Millinocket has the most affordable homes ($100k median).
Blue Hill has the most people working from home (21%).

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.

MeasureSurryMillinocketBlue Hill
People
Population
1,836Lowest
3,779Highest
2,813
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-8.1%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+3.9%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
52.4±5.6
17% above ME
57.5±7.3Highest
28% above ME
48.6±8.2Lowest
8% above ME
Millinocket 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%
12.1%±6.5Lowest
ME: 18.1%
18.3%±7Highest
ME: 18.1%
Blue Hill and Surry 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%
39.4%±8.7Highest
ME: 22.4%
29.6%±10.2Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Millinocket 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%
ME: 36.2%
19.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
38.2%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.3%±3.2
ME: 5.8%
5.7%±4.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
Blue Hill and Millinocket 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
$50,445±$11kLowest
32% below ME
$80,377±$17kHighest
8% above ME
Blue Hill 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±$36k
about the ME average
$99,800±$24kLowest
66% below ME
$399,500±$82kHighest
35% above ME
Blue Hill 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
$451±$130Lowest
60% below ME
$1,038±$638Highest
9% below ME
Blue Hill and Surry 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
$1,538Lowest
49% below ME
$2,907Highest
4% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65.8%±59.5
ME: 48.4%
20.5%±11Lowest
ME: 48.4%
93.6%±27.2Highest
ME: 48.4%
Blue Hill and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7%
ME: 10.7%
18.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
4.7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
83.5%
ME: 74.3%
79.7%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
10 yrs newer than ME
1956Lowest
21 yrs older than ME
1992Highest
15 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
26% above ME
21 min
14% below ME
21 minLowest
15% below ME
Work from home
11.4%±5
ME: 15.9%
1.7%±3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
21%±9.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
Blue Hill and Surry 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 — #98 of 133 in ME #29 of 133 in ME
School district Surry Public Schools — Blue Hill Public Schools
High school 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.