Compare towns
Keene vs Pepperell 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
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Pepperell | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
11,663 |
7,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
50±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swanzey and Keene 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$81,595±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$259,200±$15k 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,508±$303Highest 7% above U.S. |
| 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 118% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$5,558Lowest 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swanzey and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | North Middlesex | 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 |
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.