What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fryeburg has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Swanzey has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

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	Fryeburg	Swanzey
People
Population	3,489Lowest	7,398Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.3±3.4Highest 37% above U.S.	50±3.1Lowest 29% above U.S.
	Fryeburg and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%	18%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Swanzey and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Fryeburg and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Swanzey and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,076±$15kLowest 31% below U.S.	$81,595±$11kHighest about the U.S. average
	Swanzey and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,600±$30kHighest 19% below U.S.	$259,200±$15kLowest 22% below U.S.
	Fryeburg and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$893±$85Lowest 37% below U.S.	$1,508±$303Highest 7% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,928Lowest 6% below U.S.	$5,558Highest 78% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±14.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Swanzey and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978 2 yrs older than U.S.	1978 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	10.8%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Fryeburg and Swanzey 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	#103 of 133 in ME	#102 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 72/MSAD 72	Monadnock Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	Monadnock Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.8
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.