What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rome has the most kids (21.4% under 18).

Surry has the most people working from home (11.4%).

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	Rome	Surry
People
Population	1,215Lowest	1,836Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	+11.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.3±9.2Lowest 8% above ME	52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME
	Surry and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1%	16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Rome and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.7%±9.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Surry and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	38.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±4.8Highest ME: 5.8%	2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Rome and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,639±$25kHighest 4% above ME	$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average
	Rome and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$329,300±$36kHighest 11% above ME	$296,300±$36kLowest about the ME average
	Rome and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$56Highest about the ME average	$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME
	Rome and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,829Lowest 40% below ME	$1,903Highest 37% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±59.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	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 ME: 10.7%	7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 21% above ME	31 minHighest 26% above ME
Work from home	7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	11.4%±5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Surry and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Surry Public Schools
High school 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.