Compare towns
Surry vs Lancaster vs Mason
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%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lancaster | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
8,606Highest |
1,451 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Lancaster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,125±$25kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $331,400±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Mason and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384Lowest 105% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$7,049 126% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Mason 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Mason School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.