Compare towns

Swanzey vs Exeter 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 kids (18% under 18).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Tilton has the most affordable homes ($217k median).

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.

MeasureSwanzeyExeterTilton
People
Population
7,398
16,151Highest
4,063Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+12.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+11.1%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
50±3.1
15% above NH
45.8±2.3Lowest
6% above 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%
17%±2.7
NH: 18.2%
15.9%±5.6Lowest
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%
25.8%±5.7Highest
NH: 20.1%
Tilton 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%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
59.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
30.9%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±2
NH: 6%
6.1%±1.8Highest
NH: 6%
3%±2.6Lowest
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±$11k
18% below NH
$110,346±$13kHighest
11% above NH
$66,667±$10kLowest
33% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$259,200±$15k
36% below NH
$456,600±$21kHighest
13% above NH
$216,700±$66kLowest
46% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,508±$303
about the NH average
$1,856±$223Highest
24% above NH
$948±$330Lowest
36% below NH
Exeter 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
$8,814Highest
32% above NH
$3,622Lowest
46% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±19.4Highest
NH: 48.2%
59%±11.3
NH: 48.2%
43.8%±17Lowest
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%
12.5%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
69.1%
NH: 72.8%
66.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
1 yr older than NH
1979Highest
same as NH
1972Lowest
7 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below NH
25 minHighest
7% below NH
25 min
8% below NH
Work from home
9.3%±4
NH: 16.8%
19.9%±3.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
7.8%±3.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #102 of 120 in NH #22 of 120 in NH #88 of 120 in NH
School district Monadnock Regional School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Winnisquam Regional School District
High school in town Monadnock Regional High School Exeter High School Winnisquam Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
12.1Lowest
16.2Highest
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.