Compare towns
Surry vs Saco vs Penobscot
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%).
Saco has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
Penobscot has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Saco | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836 |
20,819Highest |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
44.9±1.5Lowest about the ME average |
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% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Penobscot and Saco 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% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,508±$12k about the ME average |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
| Saco 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 |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$1,141±$33 about the ME average |
| Saco and Penobscot 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 |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Penobscot 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 | — | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Surry Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.