Compare towns
Surry vs Keene vs Mason
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Keene | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
22,939Highest |
1,451 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1Highest 3% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
| Surry and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Surry and Keene 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% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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±$25k 11% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374 31% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384Lowest 4% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$7,049Highest 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason 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 NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Mason 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Keene School District | Mason School District |
| High school in town | — | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.