Compare towns
Surry vs Norwich vs Mason
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%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Norwich | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
3,640Highest |
1,451 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Norwich 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,125±$25kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $331,400±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374 38% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384Lowest 105% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,049 126% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Norwich School District | Mason School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.