Compare towns
Keene vs Marlborough 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 youngest population (median age 37.6).
Marlborough has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Keene | Marlborough | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
1,048Lowest |
7,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
47.6±11.7 10% above NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
| Swanzey and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Marlborough and Swanzey 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% |
22.9%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey and Marlborough 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% |
36.3% NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$67,356±$10kLowest 32% 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 |
$261,700±$44kHighest 35% below NH |
$259,200±$15k 36% below NH |
| Marlborough and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$973±$153Lowest 35% 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 | $6,812Highest about the NH average |
$6,076 9% below NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
40%±17.8Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1943Lowest 36 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±10.9 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Keene and Marlborough 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 | — | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school 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 |
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.