Compare towns
Swanzey vs Marlborough vs Thornton
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 most affordable homes ($259k median).
Marlborough has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Marlborough | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,398Highest |
1,048Lowest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% NH: +4.6% |
-2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±3.1 15% above NH |
47.6±11.7Lowest 10% above NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
| Thornton and Swanzey 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% |
20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlborough 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% |
22.9%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey and Marlborough 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% |
36.3% NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Thornton 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 18% below NH |
$67,356±$10kLowest 32% below NH |
$90,022±$17kHighest 9% below NH |
| Thornton 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 |
$261,700±$44k 35% below NH |
$351,900±$20kHighest 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,508±$303Highest about the NH average |
$973±$153Lowest 35% below NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
| Swanzey and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,558 17% below NH |
$6,076Highest 9% below NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±17.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Thornton 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% |
7.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1943Lowest 36 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 9% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±10.9 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Marlborough 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | — | Thornton 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 | 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.