Compare towns
Eliot vs Keene 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
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Keene has the youngest population (median age 37.6).
Swanzey has the most kids (18% 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.
| Measure | Eliot | Keene | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
22,939Highest |
7,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
50±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Swanzey and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$81,595±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$259,200±$15k 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,508±$303 7% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,558 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swanzey and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #81 of 120 in NH | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | 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 |
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.