Compare towns
Seabrook vs Nelson 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 most expensive homes ($444k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Swanzey has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
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 | Seabrook | Nelson | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,427Highest |
648Lowest |
7,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 54±1.9Highest 25% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Swanzey 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% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Seabrook and Nelson 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% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 15% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
| Nelson 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 |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$174Highest 3% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
| Seabrook and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,785Highest 13% below NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #114 of 120 in NH | — | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Seabrook School District | Nelson School District | 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 |
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.