Compare towns
Chesterfield vs Dummerston vs Ogunquit vs Swanzey
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Chesterfield | Dummerston | Ogunquit | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,622 |
2,090 |
1,379Lowest |
7,398Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±8.7 20% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
50±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±7.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,370±$40k 27% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$81,595±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Ogunquit and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,500±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$259,200±$15kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,324±$1kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,508±$303Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Swanzey and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,344Highest 103% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,558 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Dummerston 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 | #52 of 120 in NH | — | — | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chesterfield School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.