Compare towns
Lebanon vs Rye 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Rye | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
5,611Lowest |
7,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
50±3.1 15% above NH |
| Rye and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
| Rye and Lebanon 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average |
| Rye and Lebanon 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Lebanon 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Rye School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
— | 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.