Compare towns
Mason vs Thompson 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
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Surry has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Mason | Thompson | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451 |
9,337Highest |
1,052Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$110,125±$25k 36% above U.S. |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$331,400±$23k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,955±$374 38% above U.S. |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,384 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason and Surry 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 | — | #130 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Mason School District | Thompson School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.


