Compare towns
Surry vs Pelham vs Ellsworth
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 the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Ellsworth has the most renters (33.3% rent).
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 | Pelham | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836Lowest |
14,449Highest |
8,657 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6Highest 35% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Ellsworth 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% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Ellsworth 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. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,300±$36k 11% below U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $969±$129Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,017±$195 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,903Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,262 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #48 of 120 in NH | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Surry Public Schools | Pelham School District | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.