Compare towns
Surry vs Warner vs Penobscot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Warner has the highest household income ($94k).
Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Warner | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836 |
2,959Highest |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6 35% above U.S. |
43.7±4Lowest 12% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Penobscot 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Penobscot and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,508±$12k 8% below U.S. |
$94,022±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Warner 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±$36kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$353,100±$22kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
| Warner and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $969±$129Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,219±$123Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
| Warner and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,903 39% below U.S. |
$7,650Highest 145% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Penobscot and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Penobscot and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Surry Public Schools | Kearsarge Regional School District | Penobscot 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 |
U.S. 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.