Compare towns

Surry vs Townsend vs Sullivan

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%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k 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.

MeasureSurryTownsendSullivan
People
Population
1,052
9,100Highest
687Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.7±5.1
15% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
46.6±6.5Highest
20% above U.S.
Sullivan 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
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Townsend 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%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.5%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Surry and Sullivan 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%
35.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.6%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Surry and Townsend 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.
$121,528±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
$106,667±$20kLowest
32% above U.S.
Townsend 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
$433,200±$22kHighest
30% above U.S.
$236,500±$29kLowest
29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,955±$374Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,469±$313
4% above U.S.
$1,225±$275Lowest
13% below U.S.
Surry and Townsend 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.
$6,031
93% above U.S.
$5,099Lowest
63% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±74.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±84.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Townsend and Sullivan 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%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
32 min
22% above U.S.
Work from home
16%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
4.2%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Surry and Townsend 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 — #136 of 282 in MA —
School district — North Middlesex —
High school in town — North Middlesex Regional —
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.1
—
On TownTapestry
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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.