Compare towns
Surry vs Nelson vs Orange
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 the shortest commute (22 min average).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($303k 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 | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052Highest |
648 |
320Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1Highest 3% above NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| Surry and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±5.6Lowest 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%±7 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20%±5Lowest 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% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7 NH: 6% |
| Surry and Orange 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 |
$118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH |
| Orange 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±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$302,600±$35kLowest 25% 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 |
$5,132Lowest 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Nelson and Surry 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% |
9.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
28 minHighest 5% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Nelson School District | — |
| High school 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.