What stands out worked out from the figures below

Friendship has the most people working from home (17.9%).

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	Friendship	Surry
People
Population	1,213Lowest	1,836Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.5±6.9Highest 24% above ME	52.4±5.6Lowest 17% above ME
	Friendship and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	16.6%±3.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Surry and Friendship are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	37.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4%	30.9%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Friendship and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	38.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	2%±1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Surry and Friendship are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,625±$22kHighest about the ME average	$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average
	Friendship and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$275,000±$56kLowest 7% below ME	$296,300±$36kHighest about the ME average
	Surry and Friendship are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,370±$53Highest 20% above ME	$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,218Highest 27% below ME	$1,903Lowest 37% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.5%±42.4Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Surry and Friendship are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10%Highest ME: 10.7%	7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	31 minHighest 26% above ME
Work from home	17.9%±7.4Highest ME: 15.9%	11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Friendship and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 40/MSAD 40	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.