Compare towns
Sullivan vs Salem 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
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($543k median).
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.
| Measure | Sullivan | Salem | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687Lowest |
44,795Highest |
1,052 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Surry and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20k 32% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Surry and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$331,400±$23k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Surry and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Lowest 63% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
$6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #248 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Salem | — |
| High school in town | — | Salem High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.