Compare towns
Surry vs Nelson 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%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052 |
648Lowest |
1,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Alstead and Nelson 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% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Surry and Nelson 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 |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Nelson 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 31% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384Highest 4% below NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Nelson 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.