Compare towns
Keene vs Lee vs Plymouth 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).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Lee | Plymouth | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
4,576Lowest |
6,601 |
7,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$81,595±$11k 18% below NH |
| Lee and Swanzey 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 |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$259,200±$15k 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
— | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,508±$303Highest about the NH average |
| Swanzey and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest 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 | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
18 min 31% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.