Compare towns
Alstead vs Surry vs Townsend
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).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k 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 | Alstead | Surry | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
1,052Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Townsend 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 20% below U.S. |
$110,125±$25k 36% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 18% below U.S. |
$331,400±$23k about the U.S. average |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Surry and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | — | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.