What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Loudon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

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	Loudon
People
Population	7,398Highest	5,692Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50±3.1Highest 15% above NH	49.5±3.2Lowest 14% above NH
	Swanzey and Loudon 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%	16.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Swanzey and Loudon 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%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Swanzey and Loudon 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%	29.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Highest NH: 6%	1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Swanzey and Loudon 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	$106,966±$16kHighest 8% above NH
	Loudon 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	$363,400±$48kHighest 10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,508±$303Highest about the NH average	$1,321±$465Lowest 11% below NH
	Swanzey and Loudon 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	$5,821Highest 13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2%	45.5%±30.4Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Swanzey and Loudon 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%	4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	89.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below NH	30 minHighest 14% above NH
Work from home	9.3%±4Highest NH: 16.8%	8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Swanzey and Loudon 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	#99 of 120 in NH
School district	Monadnock Regional School District	Merrimack Valley 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.