Compare towns
Keene vs Bartlett 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
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
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 | Keene | Bartlett | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
3,281Lowest |
7,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
57.4±4.7Highest 33% above NH |
50±3.1 15% above NH |
| Bartlett and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
7.5%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Swanzey and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
36.1%±9.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bartlett and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$59,754±$9kLowest 40% below NH |
$81,595±$11kHighest 18% below NH |
| Swanzey and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$371,400±$78kHighest 8% below NH |
$259,200±$15k 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,676±$97Highest 12% above NH |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
| Bartlett and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Highest about the NH average |
$2,512Lowest 62% below NH |
$5,558 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
68.5%±37.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Bartlett and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
10.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Keene and Bartlett 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #74 of 120 in NH | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Bartlett School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | 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.