Compare towns
Surry vs Brighton vs Keene
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%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Brighton | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
1,167 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Brighton and Surry 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% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Surry and Brighton 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% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Keene and Surry 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. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Surry and Keene 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 |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384 105% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Keene 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% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Surry and Keene 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 | — | — | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Brighton School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| 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.