Compare towns
Keene vs Westmoreland vs Swanzey vs Marlborough
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).
Westmoreland has the most expensive homes ($352k median).
Swanzey has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
Marlborough has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Westmoreland | Swanzey | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
2,237 |
7,398 |
1,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
55.3±2.2Highest 28% above NH |
50±3.1 15% above NH |
47.6±11.7 10% above NH |
| Westmoreland and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3Highest 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% |
31.7%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Westmoreland 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% NH: 40.6% |
47.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$104,444±$28kHighest 5% above NH |
$81,595±$11k 18% below NH |
$67,356±$10kLowest 32% below NH |
| Westmoreland 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 |
$351,800±$12kHighest 13% below NH |
$259,200±$15k 36% below NH |
$261,700±$44k 35% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,354±$280 9% below NH |
$1,508±$303Highest about the NH average |
$973±$153Lowest 35% below NH |
| Swanzey and Westmoreland 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 |
$6,643 about the NH average |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
$6,076 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
32.5%±23.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±17.8 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% |
6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
7.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
89.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1943Lowest 36 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±10.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Keene and Westmoreland 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 | Westmoreland 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 | 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.