Compare towns
Surry vs Nelson 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%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Mason has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
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 | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052 |
648Lowest |
1,451Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1Highest 3% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
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%±6.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Surry and Mason 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 |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$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±$23kLowest 18% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH |
| Mason and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374 31% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% 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 | $6,384 4% below NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$7,049Highest 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Nelson School District | Mason 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.