Compare towns
Swanzey vs Hill vs Nelson
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
Hill has the most homeowners (94.2%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Hill | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,398Highest |
908 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
49.1±6.8 13% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Swanzey and Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
10.9%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Swanzey 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% |
28.5%±2.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Hill and Nelson 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% |
30.4% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Swanzey and Hill 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 |
$82,125±$21k 17% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
| Nelson and Hill 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 |
$311,700±$41k 23% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
| Nelson and Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,508±$303Highest about the NH average |
— | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Swanzey and Nelson 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 |
$4,933Lowest 26% below NH |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Nelson 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% |
9.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
35 minHighest 32% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.7%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #102 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Hill School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | Monadnock Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.