Compare towns
Surry vs Stark vs Alstead
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
Alstead has the most renters (24% rent).
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 | Stark | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052 |
419Lowest |
1,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-14%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1Lowest 3% above NH |
58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
| Stark and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±6.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Surry and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.2%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Alstead and Stark 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 NH: 40.6% |
17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
28.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±4.7 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Surry and Stark 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 11% above NH |
$71,750±$23k 28% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Surry and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $331,400±$23kHighest 18% below NH |
$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH |
$271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
| Surry and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374 31% above NH |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384Highest 4% below NH |
$2,636Lowest 60% below NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±100 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Surry and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Stark School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.