Compare towns
Swanzey vs Bow vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 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.
| Measure | Swanzey | Bow | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,398Lowest |
8,335 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,595±$11k 18% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $259,200±$15k 36% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,508±$303 about the NH average |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Bow and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Keene 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Bow School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Monadnock Regional High School | Bow High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
12.3Lowest |
| 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.