What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milton has the most people working from home (18.9%).

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	Milton	Swanzey
People
Population	4,538Lowest	7,398Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+0.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.7±2.4Lowest 6% above NH	50±3.1Highest 15% above NH
	Swanzey and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±5Highest NH: 18.2%	18%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Milton and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1%	24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	30.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	3.4%±2Highest NH: 6%
	Swanzey and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,493±$27kHighest 5% below NH	$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH
	Milton and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,400±$34kHighest 21% below NH	$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,587±$318Highest 6% above NH	$1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average
	Milton and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,663Highest 15% below NH	$5,558Lowest 17% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.7%±24.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Swanzey and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	7.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above NH	24 minLowest 9% below NH
Work from home	18.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%	9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Milton 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	#116 of 120 in NH	#102 of 120 in NH
School district	Milton School District	Monadnock Regional School District
High school in town	Nute High School	Monadnock Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	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.