Compare towns
Alstead vs Chatham vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Chatham has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Surry has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Alstead | Chatham | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
430Lowest |
1,052 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
48.3±8.6 12% above NH |
44.7±5.1Lowest 3% above NH |
| Alstead and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±7.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Chatham and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±10 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Alstead and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±3.8 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Surry and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$66,042±$19k 33% below NH |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$362,900±$42kHighest 10% below NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
| Chatham and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,955±$374 31% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$6,384Highest 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.8% NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Surry and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.