Compare towns
Surry vs Unity 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%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Unity | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
1,375 |
1,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1Lowest 3% above NH |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
| Unity 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Surry and Alstead 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% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Unity and Alstead 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% |
21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
28.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Surry and Alstead 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 |
$87,500±$16k 12% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Surry and Unity 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 |
$276,100±$29k 31% below NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,625±$804Lowest 9% above NH |
— |
| Surry and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384Highest 4% below NH |
$5,394 19% below NH |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Unity 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% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Surry and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Unity School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.