Compare towns
Surry vs Ellsworth vs Alstead
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 the highest household income ($110k).
Ellsworth has the most renters (33.3% rent).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
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 | Ellsworth | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
8,657Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Surry and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Surry and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $331,400±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
| Surry and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Surry and Alstead 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 | — | #63 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Ellsworth Public Schools | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Ellsworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.