Compare towns
Surry vs Union vs Franklin
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%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Franklin has the most renters (23.2% rent).
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 | Union | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836 |
2,663Highest |
1,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
46±9.3 about the ME average |
| Surry and Franklin 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% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Franklin 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% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
28.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Franklin and Union 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 |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$65,455±$16kLowest 12% below ME |
| Union 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±$36kHighest about the ME average |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$245,800±$59kLowest 17% below ME |
| Surry and Union 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 |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$888±$306Lowest 22% below ME |
| Union 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 |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$2,231 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Surry and Franklin 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% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Surry Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| High school 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.