What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bridgewater	Surry
People
Population	980Lowest	1,052Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S.	44.7±5.1Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Bridgewater and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Surry and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	23.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bridgewater and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Surry and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S.	$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S.	$331,400±$23kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S.	$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S.
	Surry and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S.	$6,384Highest 105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bridgewater and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 9% below U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Surry and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.