Compare towns

Surry vs Middlesex 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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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.

MeasureSurryMiddlesexAlstead
People
Population
1,052Lowest
1,943Highest
1,551
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.7±5.1
15% above U.S.
44.4±3.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
56±3.3Highest
44% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20.8%±6.2
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Middlesex and Surry 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%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%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%
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Surry and Middlesex 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.
$109,632±$13k
36% above U.S.
$64,526±$11kLowest
20% below U.S.
Surry and Middlesex 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
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
$271,600±$37kLowest
18% below U.S.
Middlesex and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,955±$374Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,333±$359Lowest
6% below U.S.
—
Surry and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,384
105% above U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
$5,322Lowest
71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±74.3
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
72.1%±22.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Alstead and Surry 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%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
76%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
16%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 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.