Compare towns
Barnstead vs Keene vs Swanzey
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Barnstead | Keene | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
22,939Highest |
7,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$81,595±$11k 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$259,200±$15k 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,508±$303Highest about the NH average |
| Swanzey and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Keene and Barnstead 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Keene School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.