Compare towns
Sullivan vs Townsend 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).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k 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 | Townsend | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687Lowest |
9,100Highest |
1,052 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
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%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Surry 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$110,125±$25k 36% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Surry 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$331,400±$23k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Surry and Townsend 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. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Surry and Townsend 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.