What stands out worked out from the figures below

Surry has the most expensive homes ($331k median).

Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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	Dorchester
People
Population	1,052Highest	410Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12% NH: +4.6%	—
Median age	44.7±5.1Lowest 3% above NH	56±10.5Highest 29% above NH
	Dorchester 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 NH: 18.2%	11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Surry and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.3%±7Lowest NH: 20.1%	39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Dorchester 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%Lowest NH: 40.6%	35.8%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6%	0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Surry and Dorchester 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	—
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$331,400±$23kHighest 18% below NH	$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,955±$374 31% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,384Highest 4% below NH	$3,779Lowest 43% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±74.3Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Surry and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	18.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 18% below NH	40 minHighest 50% above NH
Work from home	16%±7.1Highest NH: 16.8%	12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Surry and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.