What stands out worked out from the figures below

Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).

Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Swanzey	Hartford
People
Population	7,398Lowest	10,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50±3.1Highest 29% above U.S.	43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Swanzey and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.2 U.S.: 22%	18%±3 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Swanzey and Hartford 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 U.S.: 35.7%	47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hartford 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±$11kHighest about the U.S. average	$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S.
	Swanzey and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$259,200±$15kLowest 22% below U.S.	$304,500±$26kHighest 8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,508±$303Highest 7% above U.S.	$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S.
	Swanzey and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,558Lowest 78% above U.S.	$5,773Highest 85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Swanzey and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.	18 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	9.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hartford and Swanzey 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	#34 of 70 in VT
School district	Monadnock Regional School District	Hartford School District
High school in town	Monadnock Regional High School	Hartford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	9.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.