What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mount Vernon has the most people working from home (28.3%).

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	Mount Vernon	Surry
People
Population	1,716Lowest	1,836Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.1±6.2Lowest 5% above ME	52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME
	Surry and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%	16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Mount Vernon and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Surry and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	38.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%	2%±1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Surry and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,395±$6kLowest about the ME average	$74,508±$12kHighest about the ME average
	Surry and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$264,200±$23kLowest 11% below ME	$296,300±$36kHighest about the ME average
	Surry and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$893±$168Lowest 22% below ME	$969±$129Highest 15% below ME
	Surry and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,832Highest 7% below ME	$1,903Lowest 37% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.9%±36.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Surry and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 29% above ME	31 minLowest 26% above ME
Work from home	28.3%±11.6Highest ME: 15.9%	11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district	RSU 38	Surry Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.