Compare towns
Surry vs Mount Desert vs Whitefield
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%).
Mount Desert has the most expensive homes ($522k median).
Whitefield has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Mount Desert | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836 |
1,671Lowest |
2,157Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
54.9±8.2Highest 23% above ME |
51.9±5.2Lowest 16% above ME |
| Mount Desert 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.6%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Whitefield 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% |
29.1%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Mount Desert 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% |
64.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±4.1 ME: 5.8% |
4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Whitefield and Mount Desert 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 |
$92,813±$9kHighest 24% above ME |
$73,875±$10kLowest about the ME average |
| Mount Desert 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 |
$522,100±$66kHighest 76% above ME |
$242,300±$24kLowest 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $969±$129 15% below ME |
$1,341±$89Highest 18% above ME |
$895±$126Lowest 21% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
$3,512Highest 16% above ME |
$2,366 22% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.9%±31.5 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±22.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Surry and Mount Desert 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% |
7.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.1%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Mount Desert and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Surry Public Schools | Mount Desert Public Schools | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.