Compare towns
Trenton vs Mapleton vs Surry vs Ellsworth
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 expensive homes ($357k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Ellsworth has the most renters (33.3% rent).
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 | Mapleton | Surry | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,599Lowest |
1,884 |
1,836 |
8,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±7.7 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
43±2.4 4% below ME |
| Surry and Trenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Trenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Trenton 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% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.1% ME: 36.2% |
39.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Trenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,455±$13kLowest 19% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$74,508±$12k about the ME average |
$77,375±$18k 4% above ME |
| Mapleton and Ellsworth 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$296,300±$36k about the ME average |
$242,300±$22k 18% below ME |
| 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±$241Highest 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$969±$129 15% below ME |
$1,017±$195 11% below ME |
| Trenton and Ellsworth 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,903 37% below ME |
$3,262Highest 7% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±20.4 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Surry and Ellsworth 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 17% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.3%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Surry and Trenton 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 | Trenton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Surry Public Schools | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.