Compare towns
Alstead vs Surry vs Upton
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%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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 | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
1,052Lowest |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 20% below U.S. |
$110,125±$25k 36% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,384 105% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% 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% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Upton 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Surry 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 | — | — | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| 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.