Compare towns
Townsend vs Surry vs Wilton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Wilton has the most renters (23% 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 | Townsend | Surry | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Highest |
1,052Lowest |
3,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
46.8±5.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Wilton and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest 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+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.4Lowest 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 | $121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$110,125±$25kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$114,349±$21k 42% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$331,400±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$381,500±$23k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,382±$70Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Surry and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,384 105% above U.S. |
$7,612Highest 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.1%±39.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wilton 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | — | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.