Compare towns
Surry vs Sumner vs Blue Hill
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%).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Blue Hill has the most expensive homes ($400k 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 | Sumner | Blue Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836 |
845Lowest |
2,813Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
48.6±8.2Lowest 8% above ME |
| Sumner 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% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
18.3%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Blue Hill and Sumner 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%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
29.6%±10.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Sumner 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% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Blue Hill 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 |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$80,377±$17kHighest 8% above ME |
| Blue Hill 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 |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$399,500±$82kHighest 35% above ME |
| Blue Hill 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 |
— | $1,038±$638Highest 9% below ME |
| Blue Hill and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,907Highest 4% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
93.6%±27.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Blue Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
4.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
21%±9.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Blue Hill and Sumner 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 | — | — | #29 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Surry Public Schools | RSU 10 | Blue Hill 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.