Compare towns
Concord vs Keene vs Surry 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
Concord has the most expensive homes ($351k median).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Concord | Keene | Surry | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
22,939 |
1,052Lowest |
7,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
| Swanzey and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Surry and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Keene and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,902±$5k 14% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
$81,595±$11k 18% below NH |
| Surry and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13kHighest 13% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
$259,200±$15k 36% below NH |
| Concord and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43 3% below NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
| Surry and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,227Highest 8% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$6,384 4% below NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Surry and Keene 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 | #89 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | — | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Keene School District | — | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | Keene High School | — | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.