Compare towns
Surry vs Swanzey vs Mason
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%).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Swanzey | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
7,398Highest |
1,451 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
| Swanzey and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey 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% NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Surry and Swanzey 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 11% above NH |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH |
| Mason 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 18% below NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
$384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374 31% above NH |
$1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384 4% below NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
$7,049Highest 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Swanzey 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% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Mason 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 | — | #102 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Monadnock Regional School District | Mason School District |
| High school in town | — | Monadnock Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.