What stands out worked out from the figures below

Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).

Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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	Lee
People
Population	7,398Highest	4,576Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50±3.1Highest 15% above NH	42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	18%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2%	21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lee 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 NH: 20.1%	22.6%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Swanzey and Lee 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%	50.6%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6%	5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Lee 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±$11kLowest 18% below NH	$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH
	Lee 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 36% below NH	$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,508±$303 about the NH average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,558Lowest 17% below NH	$9,661Highest 45% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2%	38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Swanzey and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest NH: 7.2%	2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	95.8%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below NH	28 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%	27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#102 of 120 in NH	#3 of 120 in NH
School district	Monadnock Regional School District	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Monadnock Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	10 photos →

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.