Compare towns
Marlborough vs Surry 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
Marlborough has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Marlborough | Surry | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,048Lowest |
1,052 |
7,398Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.6±11.7 10% above NH |
44.7±5.1Lowest 3% above NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
| Swanzey and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Surry and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2 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 | $67,356±$10kLowest 32% below NH |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
$81,595±$11k 18% below NH |
| Surry and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $261,700±$44k 35% below NH |
$331,400±$23kHighest 18% below NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $973±$153Lowest 35% below NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
| Surry and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,076 9% below NH |
$6,384Highest 4% below NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±17.8 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1943Lowest 36 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.2%±10.9 NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Surry and Marlborough 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 | — | — | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school 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.