Compare towns
Surry vs Berlin vs Gilsum
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%).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k 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.
| Measure | Surry | Berlin | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052 |
2,880Highest |
716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.8±8.1 15% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Surry and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Berlin 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. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$80,417±$7kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Surry and Berlin 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 |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$241,500±$32kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,575±$894 11% above U.S. |
| Surry and Gilsum 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. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,579 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.5%±55.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilsum and Berlin 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% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Surry and Gilsum 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.