Compare towns
Surry vs Fall River 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%).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
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 | Fall River | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
94,082Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Surry and Fall River 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% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Fall River 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. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $331,400±$23k about the U.S. average |
$395,500±$11kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
$3,953Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Fall River 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% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Surry and Alstead 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 | — | #262 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | B M C Durfee High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.