What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dresden has the most affordable homes ($240k median).

Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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	Dresden	Surry
People
Population	1,645Lowest	1,836Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME	52.4±5.6Lowest 17% above ME
	Dresden and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1%	16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Dresden and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4%	30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Surry and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%	38.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Dresden and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,844±$22kHighest about the ME average	$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average
	Dresden and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME	$296,300±$36kHighest about the ME average
	Surry and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME	$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME
	Dresden and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,500Highest 18% below ME	$1,903Lowest 37% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Surry and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	88.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 35% above ME	31 minLowest 26% above ME
Work from home	6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	11.4%±5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Surry and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 02	Surry Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.