Compare towns
Lee vs Swanzey vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Lee | Swanzey | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
7,398Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
50±3.1 15% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% 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 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest 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+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
| Rye and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 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 | 2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #102 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Monadnock Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.