Compare towns
Surry vs Unity vs Whitefield
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%).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Whitefield has the most kids (17.6% under 18).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836Lowest |
1,858 |
2,157Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
51.9±5.2 16% above ME |
| Surry and Whitefield 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% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.6%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Whitefield 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Whitefield 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% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,508±$12kHighest about the ME average |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$73,875±$10k about the ME average |
| Surry and Whitefield 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 |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$242,300±$24k 18% below ME |
| Surry and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $969±$129Highest 15% below ME |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$895±$126 21% below ME |
| Surry and Whitefield 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 |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$2,366 22% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±22.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Surry and Unity 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Surry Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.