Compare towns
Alstead vs Somersworth 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).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% 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 | Somersworth | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
12,111Highest |
1,052Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Surry and Somersworth 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% |
14%±3Lowest 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% |
31.4% NH: 40.6% |
31.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Surry and Somersworth 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 |
$74,504±$13k 25% below NH |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
| Surry and Somersworth 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 |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$331,400±$23kHighest 18% below NH |
| Surry and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
| Surry and Somersworth 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 |
$6,805Highest about the NH average |
$6,384 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #117 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Somersworth School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Somersworth High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.