Compare towns
Surry vs Woolwich 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%).
Woolwich has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Woolwich | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836 |
3,158Highest |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.1% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6Lowest 17% above ME |
55.8±5.5Highest 25% above ME |
53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
| Woolwich and Penobscot 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% |
15%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Penobscot and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Woolwich and Penobscot 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% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Woolwich 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 |
$102,175±$26kHighest 37% above ME |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
| Woolwich 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 |
$254,500±$59kLowest 14% 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±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
— | $1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,903 37% below ME |
$2,433Highest 20% below ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±100Lowest 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% |
13.3% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Woolwich 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 | — | #92 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Surry Public Schools | RSU 01 - LKRSU | 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 |
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.