Compare towns
Lyme vs Swanzey vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Lyme | Swanzey | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
7,398Highest |
1,052Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
44.7±5.1Lowest 3% above NH |
| Swanzey and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Surry and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Surry and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
$110,125±$25k 11% above NH |
| Lyme and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
| Surry and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Surry 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 | Lyme 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 | 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.