What stands out worked out from the figures below

Surry has the most people working from home (16%).

Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k 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	Belvidere
People
Population	1,052Highest	422Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.7±5.1Highest 15% above U.S.	40.7±6.5Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Surry and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	22%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Belvidere 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%	8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Surry and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S.	$81,563±$18kLowest about the U.S. average
	Surry and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$331,400±$23kHighest about the U.S. average	$239,200±$51kLowest 28% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S.	$1,542±$1kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Surry and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,384Highest 105% above U.S.	$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.7%±53.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Belvidere 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 U.S.: 12.5%	5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.	38 minHighest 42% above U.S.
Work from home	16%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.4%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Surry and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.