What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Bennington has the most renters (38.6% rent).

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	North Bennington	Surry
People
Population	1,336Highest	1,052Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±10Lowest 13% above U.S.	44.7±5.1Highest 15% above U.S.
	Surry and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	31.9%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	23.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Bennington and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	21.6%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.6%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,571±$10kLowest 15% below U.S.	$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$313,000±$40kLowest 6% below U.S.	$331,400±$23kHighest about the U.S. average
	Surry and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,447±$278Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S.
	Surry and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,590Lowest 79% above U.S.	$6,384Highest 105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.7%±26.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Bennington and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 33% below U.S.	22 minHighest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	17.3%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Bennington and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.