What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dresden has the most affordable homes ($240k 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	Surry	Dresden
People
Population	1,836Highest	1,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.4±5.6Lowest 17% above ME	55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME
	Dresden and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	17%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Dresden and Surry 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%	24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Surry and Dresden 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%	30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%	3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Dresden 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±$12kLowest about the ME average	$74,844±$22kHighest about the ME average
	Dresden and Surry 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	$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME
	Surry and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME	$1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME
	Dresden and Surry 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	$2,500Highest 18% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4%	13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Surry and Dresden 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%	9.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME	1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 26% above ME	33 minHighest 35% above ME
Work from home	11.4%±5Highest ME: 15.9%	6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Surry and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Surry Public Schools	RSU 02
High school in town	None 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.