What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).

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.

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

Measure	Milford	Swanzey
People
Population	16,337Highest	7,398Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH	50±3.1Highest 15% above NH
Kids under 18	23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2%	18%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Milford and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1%	24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.3Highest NH: 6%	3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6%
	Milford and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,768±$14kHighest about the NH average	$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH
	Milford and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,800±$20kHighest about the NH average	$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH	$1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average
	Milford and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,522Highest 13% above NH	$5,558Lowest 17% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.6%±15.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Swanzey and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	7.8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	71.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	24 minLowest 9% below NH
Work from home	15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%	9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Milford and Swanzey 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	#55 of 120 in NH	#102 of 120 in NH
School district	Milford School District	Monadnock Regional School District
High school in town	Milford High School	Monadnock Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	12.8Highest
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.