Compare towns
Surry vs Eliot vs Alstead
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%).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Eliot | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
7,146Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Eliot 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% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Surry and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Alstead 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. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Surry and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $331,400±$23k about the U.S. average |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Lowest 38% above U.S. |
— |
| Surry and Eliot 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Eliot 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.