What stands out worked out from the figures below

Unity has the highest household income ($88k).

Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Unity	Surry
People
Population	1,375Lowest	1,836Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S.	52.4±5.6Lowest 35% above U.S.
	Unity and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Surry and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	30.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Unity and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	38.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Surry and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S.	$74,508±$12kLowest 8% below U.S.
	Unity and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S.	$296,300±$36kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Surry and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S.	$969±$129Lowest 31% below U.S.
	Unity and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,394Highest 73% above U.S.	$1,903Lowest 39% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	65.8%±59.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Surry and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Surry and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Unity School District	Surry Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.