What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).

Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).

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	Pepperell	Swanzey
People
Population	11,663Highest	7,398Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S.	50±3.1Highest 29% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	18%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Pepperell and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Swanzey and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pepperell and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S.	$81,595±$11kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S.	$259,200±$15kLowest 22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S.	$1,508±$303Highest 7% above U.S.
	Swanzey and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,698Highest 115% above U.S.	$5,558Lowest 78% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Swanzey and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#153 of 282 in MA	#102 of 120 in NH
School district	North Middlesex	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

U.S. 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.