Compare towns
Swanzey vs Keene vs Newport
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%).
Keene has the most people working from home (15.6%).
Newport has the most affordable homes ($226k 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.
| Measure | Swanzey | Keene | Newport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,398 |
22,939Highest |
6,375Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-3.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
46.9±5.2 8% above NH |
| Swanzey and Newport 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% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Swanzey and Keene 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% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey and Newport 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% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,595±$11kHighest 18% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$80,341±$12k 19% below NH |
| Swanzey and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $259,200±$15kHighest 36% below NH |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$225,900±$17kLowest 44% below NH |
| Swanzey and Keene 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 |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,365±$305 8% below NH |
| Swanzey and Newport 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 |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$5,649 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
40%±15.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
11.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
66.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1964 15 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 9% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.6%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Keene and Newport 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #119 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Keene School District | Newport School District |
| High school in town | Monadnock Regional High School | Keene High School | Newport Middle High School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.3 |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.