What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

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	Plaistow	Swanzey
People
Population	7,861Highest	7,398Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH	50±3.1Highest 15% above NH
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2%	18%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Plaistow and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Swanzey and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%	3.4%±2Highest NH: 6%
	Swanzey and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH	$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average	$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH	$1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average
	Plaistow and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,194Highest 8% above NH	$5,558Lowest 17% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Swanzey and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%	7.8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978 1 yr older than NH	1978 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 7% above NH	24 minLowest 9% below NH
Work from home	13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8%	9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Plaistow 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	#66 of 120 in NH	#102 of 120 in NH
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Monadnock Regional School District
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	Monadnock Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	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.