What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

Swanzey has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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	Stoddard	Swanzey
People
Population	1,072Lowest	7,398Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53±4Highest 22% above NH	50±3.1Lowest 15% above NH
	Stoddard and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	18%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2%
	Swanzey and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1%	24.2%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Stoddard and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6%	3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6%
	Stoddard and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,904±$11kHighest 4% below NH	$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH
	Stoddard and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$330,300±$20kHighest 18% below NH	$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH	$1,508±$303Highest about the NH average
	Swanzey and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,316Lowest 35% below NH	$5,558Highest 17% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%	67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Swanzey and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	7.8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.3%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	34 minHighest 25% above NH	24 minLowest 9% below NH
Work from home	9.5%±4Highest NH: 16.8%	9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Stoddard 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	—	#102 of 120 in NH
School district	Stoddard School District	Monadnock Regional School District
High school 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

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.