What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k median).

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	Lempster	Surry
People
Population	953Lowest	1,052Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+12%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.8±7.2Highest 17% above NH	44.7±5.1Lowest 3% above NH
	Lempster and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2%
	Surry and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.4%±3.5Highest NH: 20.1%	23.3%±7Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Lempster and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	31.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%	6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6%
	Surry and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,607±$12kLowest 13% below NH	$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH
	Surry and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$241,900±$29kLowest 40% below NH	$331,400±$23kHighest 18% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,955±$374 31% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,558Lowest 32% below NH	$6,384Highest 4% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest NH: 48.2%	33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lempster and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	91.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977 2 yrs older than NH	1977 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 40% above NH	22 minLowest 18% below NH
Work from home	5%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	16%±7.1Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Lempster School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.