Compare towns
Rome vs Middlesex vs Smithfield 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
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Surry has the most renters (11.4% rent).
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 | Rome | Middlesex | Smithfield | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,215 |
1,943Highest |
856Lowest |
1,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±9.2 24% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
55.8±3.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
52.4±5.6 35% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
10%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Rome and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,639±$25k 4% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$107,917±$27k 34% above U.S. |
$74,508±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$242,800±$15kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$296,300±$36k 11% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$56 19% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,109±$358 22% below U.S. |
$969±$129Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,829Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$2,866 8% below U.S. |
$1,903 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±59.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±59.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Surry and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Surry Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.