Compare towns
Lebanon vs Milford 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
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Lebanon | Milford | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999 |
16,337Highest |
7,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10kHighest about the NH average |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
| Lebanon and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$398,800±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
| Milford and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average |
| Lebanon and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Milford 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Milford School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Milford High School | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
10.7Lowest |
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.