Compare towns
Surry vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.
| Measure | Surry | Strafford | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
1,372 |
1,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%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% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,125±$25k 36% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Surry 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Surry and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384 105% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Strafford 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Strafford 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 |
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.