What stands out worked out from the figures below

Swanzey has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

Lempster has the most homeowners (98.2%).

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	Lempster
People
Population	7,398Highest	953Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50±3.1Lowest 15% above NH	50.8±7.2Highest 17% above NH
	Lempster and Swanzey 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%	12.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Swanzey and Lempster 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%	25.4%±3.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Lempster and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6%	6.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Lempster 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	$86,607±$12kHighest 13% below NH
	Lempster 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±$15kHighest 36% below NH	$241,900±$29kLowest 40% below NH
	Swanzey and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,508±$303 about the NH average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,558Highest 17% below NH	$4,558Lowest 32% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.7%±19.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	100%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Lempster and Swanzey 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%	7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	98.2%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below NH	37 minHighest 40% above NH
Work from home	9.3%±4Highest NH: 16.8%	5%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Swanzey and Lempster 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	—
School district	Monadnock Regional School District	Lempster 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	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.