Compare towns
Surry vs Whitefield vs Penobscot
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%).
Whitefield has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Whitefield | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836 |
2,157Highest |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.7% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
51.9±5.2Lowest 16% above ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
17.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Penobscot and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.7% ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1 ME: 5.8% |
4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Whitefield 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±$12kHighest about the ME average |
$73,875±$10k about the ME average |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
| 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±$36k about the ME average |
$242,300±$24kLowest 18% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
| Penobscot 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 |
$895±$126Lowest 21% below ME |
$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,903 37% below ME |
$2,366Highest 22% below ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±22.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| 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 ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot 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 12 | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.