Compare towns
Kingston vs Meredith 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
Kingston has the highest household income ($105k).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Kingston | Meredith | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275Lowest |
6,758 |
7,398Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
50±3.1Lowest 15% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Swanzey and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
| Kingston and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,330±$12kHighest 6% above NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
| Kingston and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
| Kingston and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,508±$303Highest about the NH average |
| Swanzey and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906Highest 19% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,558 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Kingston 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.