Compare towns
Surry vs Nelson vs Mason vs Acworth
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).
Acworth has the most affordable homes ($273k 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 | Acworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,052 |
648Lowest |
1,451Highest |
851 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
-4.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
47.3±14.5Highest 9% above NH |
| Acworth and Surry 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% |
25.9%±16.5 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% |
24%±9.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Acworth 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% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
25.4%Lowest 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% |
5.1%±4.2 NH: 6% |
| Surry and Acworth 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±$23k about the NH average |
$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH |
$82,917±$5kLowest 16% 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 |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH |
$273,000±$34kLowest 32% 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 |
$1,352±$291 9% below 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 |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$7,049Highest 6% above NH |
$4,695Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
9.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
92.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1963Lowest 16 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
35 min 30% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±4.5Lowest 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 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.