What stands out worked out from the figures below

Otis has the highest household income ($101k).

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	Otis	Surry
People
Population	705Lowest	1,836Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME	52.4±5.6Lowest 17% above ME
	Otis and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±7.8 ME: 18.1%	16.6%±3.7 ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	20.9%±8Lowest ME: 22.4%	30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Surry and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	38.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	2%±1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Surry and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,250±$27kHighest 35% above ME	$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average
	Otis and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$282,500±$23kLowest 5% below ME	$296,300±$36kHighest about the ME average
	Surry and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME	$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME
	Otis and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,263Highest 25% below ME	$1,903Lowest 37% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.7%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Surry and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME	1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 69% above ME	31 minLowest 26% above ME
Work from home	5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	11.4%±5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Surry and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Otis Public Schools	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.