What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).

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	Brookline	Surry
People
Population	531Lowest	1,052Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S.	44.7±5.1Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Brookline and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±6Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Surry and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Surry and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Lowest 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	$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average	$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S.
	Surry and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S.	$331,400±$23kHighest about the U.S. average
	Surry and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,732±$232Lowest 23% above U.S.	$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S.
	Surry and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S.	$6,384Highest 105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brookline and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 8% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brookline and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.