Compare towns
Surry 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%).
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 | Penobscot | Lovell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836Highest |
1,154Lowest |
1,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
52.2±3.5Lowest 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% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest 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%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.5%±3.9Lowest 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% |
36.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.3%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Lovell and Surry 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 |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
$80,625±$20kHighest 8% above ME |
| Lovell 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 |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$295,000±$47kLowest 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±$33 about the ME average |
$1,419±$178Highest 25% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,903Highest 37% 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% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
45.3%±29.3Lowest 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% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
31 minHighest 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5Lowest 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 | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 72/MSAD 72 |
| 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.