Compare towns
Swanzey vs Newfields vs Hanover
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).
Newfields has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Newfields | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,398 |
2,023Lowest |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey and Hanover 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% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
| Newfields and Hanover 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 |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Hanover and Newfields 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Hanover 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Newfields 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Newfields School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Monadnock Regional High School | None in town | Hanover High School |
| 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.