Compare towns
Surry vs Stetson vs Deer Isle
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%).
Stetson has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Deer Isle has the most people working from home (22%).
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 | Stetson | Deer Isle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836 |
1,151Lowest |
2,470Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below ME |
52.6±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
| Deer Isle 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% |
22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson and Surry 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% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Deer Isle 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% |
19.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Stetson and Deer Isle 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 |
$76,023±$28kHighest about the ME average |
$62,284±$15kLowest 17% below ME |
| Stetson 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 |
$205,700±$34kLowest 31% below ME |
$308,300±$42kHighest 4% above ME |
| Deer Isle and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $969±$129 15% below ME |
$800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
$1,909±$927Highest 68% above ME |
| Deer Isle and Surry 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 |
$1,962Highest 35% below ME |
$1,890Lowest 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
25.4%±17.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson 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% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
20 minLowest 17% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±9.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Deer Isle 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 | — | Deer Isle-Stonington CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Deer Isle-Stonington High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0 |
| 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.