Compare towns
Seabrook vs Merrimac vs Swanzey
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Seabrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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.
| Measure | Seabrook | Merrimac | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,427Highest |
6,748Lowest |
7,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±1.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Lowest 27% above U.S. |
50±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Swanzey and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Seabrook and Merrimac 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Swanzey and Seabrook 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 4% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$81,595±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,500±$40k 33% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$259,200±$15kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$174Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,508±$303 7% above U.S. |
| Seabrook and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,785 85% above U.S. |
$7,399Highest 137% above U.S. |
$5,558Lowest 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swanzey and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Seabrook 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 | #114 of 120 in NH | #188 of 282 in MA | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Seabrook School District | Pentucket | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.