Compare towns
Swanzey vs Milford vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,398 |
16,337Highest |
2,622Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
36.8±2.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Milford and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swanzey and Putney 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,595±$11k about the U.S. average |
$97,768±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Milford 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 22% below U.S. |
$398,800±$20kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,508±$303 7% above U.S. |
$1,661±$126Highest 18% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Milford and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,558 78% above U.S. |
$7,522Highest 141% above U.S. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swanzey and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Milford 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 | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Milford School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Monadnock Regional High School | Milford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.