What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sumner has the most people working from home (18.5%).

Surry has the most expensive homes ($296k median).

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	Sumner	Surry
People
Population	845Lowest	1,836Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME	52.4±5.6Lowest 17% above ME
	Sumner and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1%	16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Sumner and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.7%±5.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Surry and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	38.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	2%±1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Surry and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME	$74,508±$12kHighest about the ME average
	Surry and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME	$296,300±$36kHighest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$969±$129 15% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,167Highest 29% below ME	$1,903Lowest 37% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	65.8%±59.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Sumner and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 72% above ME	31 minLowest 26% above ME
Work from home	18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9%	11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Sumner and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 10	Surry Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.