Compare towns
Alstead vs Fall River vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Fall River | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
94,082Highest |
1,052Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Surry and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7 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+ | 28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$395,500±$11kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$331,400±$23k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$3,953Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1Highest 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 | — | #262 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | — |
| High school in town | None in town | B M C Durfee High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.