What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).

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	Lyme
People
Population	1,836Highest	1,710Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.4±5.6Highest 35% above U.S.	48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S.
	Surry and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lyme 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%	26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Surry and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lyme 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 8% below U.S.	$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,300±$36kLowest 11% below U.S.	$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$969±$129Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,903Lowest 39% below U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±59.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Surry and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.
Work from home	11.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Surry Public Schools	Lyme School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.