Compare towns
Swanzey vs Exeter vs Seabrook
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 affordable homes ($259k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Seabrook has the shortest commute (21 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 | Exeter | Seabrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,398Lowest |
16,151Highest |
8,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±3.1 15% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
54±1.9Highest 25% 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 | 18%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Swanzey and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.5%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Seabrook and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter 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±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$84,349±$15k 15% below NH |
| Exeter and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$443,500±$40k 10% above NH |
| Exeter and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,542±$174 3% above NH |
| Exeter and Seabrook 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,785 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±10Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
68.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #102 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #114 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Seabrook School District |
| High school in town | Monadnock Regional High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.