What stands out worked out from the figures below

Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

Beals has the most people working from home (17.6%).

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	Surry	Beals
People
Population	1,836Highest	498Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME	48±15.6Lowest 7% above ME
	Surry and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±3.7Highest ME: 18.1%	16.1%±6.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Surry and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%	30.1%±5.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Surry and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	37.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Beals and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,508±$12kHighest about the ME average	$64,063±$14kLowest 14% below ME
	Surry and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,300±$36kHighest about the ME average	$256,700±$45kLowest 13% below ME
	Surry and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$969±$129Highest 15% below ME	$907±$378Lowest 20% below ME
	Surry and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,903Lowest 37% below ME	$2,580Highest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4%	7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Surry and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	10.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	83.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 26% above ME	21 minLowest 17% below ME
Work from home	11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.6%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Beals and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Surry Public Schools	Beals 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.