Compare towns
Kingston vs Swanzey vs Wolfeboro
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Swanzey | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275Lowest |
7,398Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7 28% above NH |
50±3.1Lowest 15% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Swanzey and Wolfeboro 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% |
24.2%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Kingston and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston 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 |
$1,508±$303Highest about the NH average |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| 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 |
$5,558 17% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Kingston 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% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #102 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Monadnock Regional High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.8 |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.