What stands out worked out from the figures below

Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).

Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Surry	Ryegate
People
Population	1,052Lowest	1,059Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±5.1Highest 15% above U.S.	41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Surry and Ryegate 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%	23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ryegate and Surry 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%	22.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Surry and Ryegate 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%	29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Surry and Ryegate 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.	$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$331,400±$23kHighest about the U.S. average	$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S.	$908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,384Highest 105% above U.S.	$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.9%±29.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ryegate and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	16%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Surry and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.