What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marlow has the highest household income ($110k).

Surry has the most people working from home (11.4%).

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	Marlow	Surry
People
Population	855Lowest	1,836Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S.	52.4±5.6Lowest 35% above U.S.
	Marlow and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22%	16.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Marlow and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.5%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Surry and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	38.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Marlow and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,455±$12kHighest 37% above U.S.	$74,508±$12kLowest 8% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$325,400±$49kHighest about the U.S. average	$296,300±$36kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Marlow and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,154±$160Highest 18% below U.S.	$969±$129Lowest 31% below U.S.
	Marlow and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,826Highest 87% above U.S.	$1,903Lowest 39% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	65.8%±59.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Surry and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 33% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Marlow School District	Surry Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	4 photos →	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.