What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).

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	Lyme	Surry
People
Population	1,710Lowest	1,836Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S.	52.4±5.6Highest 35% above U.S.
	Surry and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%	16.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lyme and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Surry and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	38.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lyme and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S.	$74,508±$12kLowest 8% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S.	$296,300±$36kLowest 11% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average	$969±$129Lowest 31% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$1,903Lowest 39% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	65.8%±59.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Surry and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Lyme School District	Surry Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.