Compare towns
Swanzey vs Lyme 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 the oldest population (median age 50).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Lyme | Newport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,398Highest |
1,710Lowest |
6,375 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
46.9±5.2Lowest 8% above NH |
| Swanzey and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24%±4.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Swanzey and Lyme 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 18% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$80,341±$12kLowest 19% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $259,200±$15k 36% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$225,900±$17kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,508±$303Highest about the NH average |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,365±$305Lowest 8% below NH |
| Swanzey and Lyme 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,649 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
40%±15.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1964Lowest 15 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 9% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.6%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #102 of 120 in NH | — | #119 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Lyme School District | Newport School District |
| High school in town | Monadnock Regional High School | None in town | Newport Middle High School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 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.