Compare towns
Surry vs Smithfield 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%).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
Lovell has the youngest population (median age 52.2).
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 | Smithfield | Lovell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836Highest |
856Lowest |
1,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
52.2±3.5Lowest 17% above ME |
| Smithfield and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.4%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Surry and Lovell 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% |
29.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
26.5%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Smithfield 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% |
34.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
6.3%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Lovell and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$80,625±$20k 8% above ME |
| Smithfield and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,300±$36kHighest about the ME average |
$242,800±$15kLowest 18% below ME |
$295,000±$47k about the ME average |
| Surry and Lovell 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 |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
$1,419±$178Highest 25% above ME |
| Lovell and Smithfield 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 |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
$1,480Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.3%±29.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Surry and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 26% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
31 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
21.8%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Surry Public Schools | — | RSU 72/MSAD 72 |
| High school 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.