Compare towns
Surry vs Brookline 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 the shortest commute (22 min average).
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($544k median).
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 | Brookline | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
5,736Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline 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% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Surry and Brookline 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 |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374Lowest 31% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
— |
| Brookline and Surry 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline 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 | — | #23 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Brookline School District | Fall Mountain 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 |
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.