Compare towns
Surry vs Rye vs Deer Isle
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 most affordable homes ($296k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Deer Isle has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Rye | Deer Isle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836Lowest |
5,611Highest |
2,470 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6Lowest 35% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
52.6±5.6 35% above U.S. |
| Rye and Deer Isle 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% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Surry 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% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deer Isle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,508±$12k 8% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$62,284±$15kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,300±$36kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$308,300±$42k 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $969±$129Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,909±$927Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Deer Isle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,903 39% below U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$1,890Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.4%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Surry and Rye 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% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±9.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Deer Isle 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Surry Public Schools | Rye School District | Deer Isle-Stonington CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Deer Isle-Stonington High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0 |
| 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.