Compare towns
Swanzey vs Durham vs Troy
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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Troy has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,398 |
15,080Highest |
2,005Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
40.2±5 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.2%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Troy and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.6%±3.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.1%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$88,871±$14k 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$266,600±$39k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,508±$303Highest about the NH average |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,024±$331Lowest 31% below NH |
| Swanzey and Durham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,229Lowest 22% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
43.1%±27.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.1%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #102 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Monadnock Regional High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.