Compare towns
Surry vs Amherst vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
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 | Amherst | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
11,861Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1Lowest 3% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Alstead and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.7% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Surry and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,125±$25k 11% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
— |
| Surry and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384 4% below NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #20 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.