Compare towns
Alstead vs Mason 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 oldest population (median age 56).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Mason | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
1,451 |
1,052Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Mason 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% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
| 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Surry and Alstead 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 |
$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH |
$110,125±$25k 11% above NH |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,955±$374Lowest 31% above NH |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
$7,049Highest 6% above NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Alstead 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Mason and Surry 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 | Mason School District | — |
| High school in town | None 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.