Compare towns
Surry vs Windham vs Worcester vs Mason
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Windham | Worcester | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,052 |
594Lowest |
831 |
1,451Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Worcester 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason 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% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Windham 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% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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±$25k 36% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$111,090±$3kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$384,000±$21kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Mason and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374 38% above U.S. |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384 105% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Windham 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mason School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.