What stands out worked out from the figures below

Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Surry	Penobscot
People
Population	1,836Highest	1,154Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.4±5.6Lowest 17% 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%	18%±6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Penobscot and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.9%±3.8Lowest 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%	32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1Highest ME: 5.8%	1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Surry and Penobscot 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	$63,194±$14kLowest 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±$36kLowest about the ME average	$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	$1,852Lowest 39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±59.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	73.9%±100Highest 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%	16%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%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
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 26% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Penobscot 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	Penobscot Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.