Compare towns
Plaistow vs Swanzey vs Sullivan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Swanzey has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
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.
| Measure | Plaistow | Swanzey | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
7,398 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
| Swanzey and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5Lowest 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% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey and Sullivan 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% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Sullivan and Swanzey 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 |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
| Plaistow and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
$259,200±$15k 36% below NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
| 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 |
$5,558 17% below NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest 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 | 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.