What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lempster has the most homeowners (98.2%).

Swanzey has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lempster	Swanzey
People
Population	953Lowest	7,398Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+0.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.8±7.2Highest 17% above NH	50±3.1Lowest 15% above NH
	Lempster and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	18%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2%
	Swanzey and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.4%±3.5Highest NH: 20.1%	24.2%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Lempster and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	30.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6%
	Lempster and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,607±$12kHighest 13% below NH	$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH
	Lempster and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$241,900±$29kLowest 40% below NH	$259,200±$15kHighest 36% below NH
	Swanzey and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,508±$303 about the NH average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,558Lowest 32% below NH	$5,558Highest 17% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest NH: 48.2%	67.7%±19.4Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lempster and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	7.8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 40% above NH	24 minLowest 9% below NH
Work from home	5%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	9.3%±4Highest NH: 16.8%
	Swanzey and Lempster 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	—	#102 of 120 in NH
School district	Lempster School District	Monadnock Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	Monadnock Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.