What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilman has the most affordable homes ($99k median).

Surry has the most kids (20.8% under 18).

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	Gilman	Surry
People
Population	165Lowest	1,052Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+12% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.2±6Highest 44% above U.S.	44.7±5.1Lowest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	0%±17.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Surry and Gilman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.1%±16.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	23.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Gilman and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	31.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Surry and Gilman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,788±$32kLowest 28% below U.S.	$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S.
	Surry and Gilman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$98,500±$46kLowest 70% below U.S.	$331,400±$23kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,279±$700Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S.
	Surry and Gilman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,806Lowest 10% below U.S.	$6,384Highest 105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.9%±69.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gilman and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	—	22 min 17% below U.S.
Work from home	0%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Surry and Gilman 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.