Compare towns
Whitefield vs Canton vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitefield has the most homeowners (91.5%).
Canton has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Surry has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
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 | Whitefield | Canton | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,157Highest |
1,191Lowest |
1,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.2 16% above ME |
41.4±7.2Lowest 8% below ME |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
| Surry and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Canton and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7% ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Whitefield and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,875±$10k about the ME average |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
$74,508±$12kHighest about the ME average |
| Surry and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$24k 18% below ME |
$165,000±$50kLowest 44% below ME |
$296,300±$36kHighest about the ME average |
| Surry and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$126 21% below ME |
$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
$969±$129Highest 15% below ME |
| Surry and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,366Highest 22% below ME |
$2,277 25% below ME |
$1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±22.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% ME: 10.7% |
8.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 12 | — | Surry Public Schools |
| High school 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.