Compare towns
Surry vs Lancaster vs Lovell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Lancaster has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
Lovell has the most affordable homes ($295k 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.
| Measure | Surry | Lancaster | Lovell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836 |
8,606Highest |
1,353Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6Highest 35% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.2±3.5 34% above U.S. |
| Surry and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lovell and Lancaster 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 8% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$80,625±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,300±$36k 11% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$295,000±$47kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $969±$129Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,419±$178 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,903 39% below U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$1,480Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.3%±29.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Lovell 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Surry Public Schools | Nashoba | RSU 72/MSAD 72 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.