Compare towns
Swanzey vs Lebanon vs Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Berwick has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Lebanon | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,398 |
14,999Highest |
1,998Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swanzey and Lebanon 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% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon 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 about the U.S. average |
$98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$81,406±$39kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Lebanon and Swanzey 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. |
$385,400±$29kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$323,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
| Lebanon and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,508±$303 7% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,558 78% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swanzey and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Berwick 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Lebanon School District | — |
| High school in town | Monadnock Regional High School | Lebanon High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.