Compare towns
Gilsum vs Berlin vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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.
| Measure | Gilsum | Berlin | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 716Lowest |
2,880Highest |
1,052 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±8.1 15% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Surry and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$7kLowest about the U.S. average |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Surry and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,500±$32kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$331,400±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,575±$894 11% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Surry and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,579 79% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.5%±55.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilsum and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.9%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Surry and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.