Compare towns
Surry vs Windham 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 the shortest commute (22 min average).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
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 | Windham | Unity | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
16,038Highest |
1,375 |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below 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%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%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% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Surry and Windham 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$87,500±$16k 12% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$276,100±$29k 31% below NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374 31% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,625±$804Lowest 9% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384 4% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above 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% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Windham School District | Unity School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.