What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k 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	Stark
People
Population	1,836Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.4±5.6Lowest 35% above U.S.	58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S.
	Stark and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Surry and Stark 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%	27.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Surry and Stark 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 U.S.: 35.7%	17.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stark 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±$12kHighest 8% below U.S.	$71,750±$23kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Surry and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,300±$36kHighest 11% below U.S.	$197,700±$34kLowest 41% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$969±$129 31% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,903Lowest 39% below U.S.	$2,636Highest 15% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±59.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stark and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	11.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stark and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Surry Public Schools	Stark 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.