Compare towns
Ashby vs Brookline 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
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Surry has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Ashby | Brookline | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
5,736Highest |
1,052Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$110,125±$25kLowest 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$331,400±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,955±$374 38% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,384 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashby and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | Brookline School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.