Compare towns
Bennington 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
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Mason has the most people working from home (20.7%).
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 | Bennington | Mason | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Highest |
1,451 |
1,052Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
44.7±5.1Highest 3% above NH |
| Surry and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Surry and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Surry and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7kLowest 15% 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 | $267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,955±$374 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 | $5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$7,049Highest 6% above NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 38% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | Mason School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.