Compare towns
Surry vs Barre vs Mason
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Barre | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
5,572Highest |
1,451 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Surry and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Barre 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 36% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $331,400±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
| Barre and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374 38% above U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384 105% above U.S. |
$5,163Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason and Surry 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 | — | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Mason School District |
| High school in town | — | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.