Compare towns
Trenton vs Appleton vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Trenton has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Trenton | Appleton | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,599 |
1,360Lowest |
1,836Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±7.7Lowest about the ME average |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
| Surry and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Trenton and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Trenton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,455±$13k 19% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$74,508±$12kHighest about the ME average |
| Surry and Trenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,400±$36kHighest 20% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$296,300±$36k about the ME average |
| Trenton and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$241 3% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
| Appleton and Trenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,310 24% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±20.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 17% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.3%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Surry and Trenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Trenton Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | Surry 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.