Compare towns
Swanzey vs Dover vs Tilton
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 most homeowners (71.7%).
Dover has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Tilton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Dover | Tilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,398 |
33,364Highest |
4,063Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±3.1 15% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
50.3±8.5Highest 16% above NH |
| Tilton and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
15.9%±5.6Lowest 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+ | 24.2%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Tilton and Swanzey 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% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3%±2.6Lowest 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 | $81,595±$11k 18% below NH |
$94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
$66,667±$10kLowest 33% below NH |
| Dover and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $259,200±$15k 36% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$216,700±$66kLowest 46% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,508±$303 about the NH average |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$948±$330Lowest 36% below NH |
| Dover and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,558 17% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$3,622Lowest 46% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
43.8%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
12.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
66.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
25 minHighest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.8%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #102 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #88 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Dover School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Monadnock Regional High School | Dover Senior High School | Winnisquam Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.7Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| 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.