Compare towns
Surry vs Wells vs Keene
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 the highest household income ($110k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% 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 | Wells | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
11,713 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Wells and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Surry and Wells 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Keene and Surry 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 36% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Surry and Wells 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 |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Surry and Wells 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Keene and Wells 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Keene School District |
| High school in town | — | Wells High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| 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.