Compare towns
Swanzey vs Milford vs Cornish
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).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).
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 | Milford | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,398 |
16,337Highest |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±3.1 15% above NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
| Cornish 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford 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% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Milford 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 |
$97,768±$14kHighest about the NH average |
$91,821±$2k 7% below NH |
| Milford and Cornish 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 |
$398,800±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$296,000±$69k 26% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,508±$303 about the NH average |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
| Milford and Swanzey 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 |
$7,522Highest 13% above NH |
$5,796 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Milford 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% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Milford and Cornish 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Milford School District | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | Monadnock Regional High School | Milford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.