Compare towns
Seabrook vs Dover vs Swanzey
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Seabrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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.
| Measure | Seabrook | Dover | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,427 |
33,364Highest |
7,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 54±1.9Highest 25% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
50±3.1 15% above NH |
| Seabrook and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Swanzey and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Seabrook and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,349±$15k 15% below NH |
$94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
| Dover and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,500±$40kHighest 10% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
| Seabrook and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$174 3% above NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average |
| Dover and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,785 13% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #114 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Seabrook School District | Dover School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
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.