Compare towns
Surry vs South Berwick 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
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.
| Measure | Surry | South Berwick | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
7,670Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Surry 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% |
15.8%±3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and South Berwick 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. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Surry and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $331,400±$23k about the U.S. average |
$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83Lowest 22% above U.S. |
— |
| Surry and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and South Berwick 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 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%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick and Surry 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Marshwood High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.