Compare towns

Surry vs Plainfield vs Alstead

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 the highest household income ($110k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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.

MeasureSurryPlainfieldAlstead
People
Population
1,052Lowest
15,141Highest
1,551
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.7±5.1
15% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
56±3.3Highest
44% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Surry and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.3%±7
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Alstead 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.6%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Surry and Plainfield 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
36% above U.S.
$76,993±$8k
5% below U.S.
$64,526±$11kLowest
20% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$331,400±$23kHighest
about the U.S. average
$272,100±$16k
18% below U.S.
$271,600±$37kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,955±$374Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,204±$70Lowest
15% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,384Highest
105% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
$5,322
71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±74.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
72.1%±22.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
3.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
76%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
16%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Surry and Alstead 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 — #131 of 149 in CT —
School district — Plainfield School District Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town — Plainfield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.3
—
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.