Compare towns
Surry vs Penobscot vs Mount Desert
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 most kids (18% under 18).
Mount Desert has the most expensive homes ($522k 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 | Penobscot | Mount Desert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836Highest |
1,154Lowest |
1,671 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6Lowest 17% above ME |
53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
54.9±8.2Highest 23% above ME |
| Mount Desert and Penobscot 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest 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% |
29.1%±4.9Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
64.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±4.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mount Desert 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 |
$92,813±$9kHighest 24% above ME |
| 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±$36kLowest about the ME average |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
$522,100±$66kHighest 76% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
$1,141±$33 about the ME average |
$1,341±$89Highest 18% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,903 37% below ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
$3,512Highest 16% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.9%±31.5Lowest 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% |
7.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
19.1%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Mount Desert 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 | Mount Desert Public Schools |
| 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.