Compare towns
Surry vs Mason vs Alstead
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%).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Mason | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
1,451 |
1,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest 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%±7 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| 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±$25k 11% above NH |
$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below 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 |
$384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374Lowest 31% above 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 | $6,384 4% below NH |
$7,049Highest 6% above NH |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Alstead 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mason School District | 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 |
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.