What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).

Surry has the most kids (20.8% 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.

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

Measure	Wilder	Surry
People
Population	3,087Highest	1,052Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+12%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S.	44.7±5.1Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Wilder and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Surry and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	23.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wilder and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.6%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wilder and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S.	$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S.	$331,400±$23kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S.
	Surry and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S.	$6,384Highest 105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.9%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wilder and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 37% below U.S.	22 minHighest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Surry and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.