What stands out worked out from the figures below

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Swanzey has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

Orford has the most people working from home (10.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Swanzey	Orford
People
Population	7,398Highest	1,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	0%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50±3.1Highest 15% above NH	48.9±3.3Lowest 13% above NH
	Swanzey and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Swanzey and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.2%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.5%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Orford 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%	44%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6%	5%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Orford 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	$92,571±$24kHighest 7% below NH
	Orford 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	$271,900±$25kHighest 32% below NH
	Orford and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,508±$303Highest about the NH average	$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH
	Swanzey and Orford 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	$5,836Highest 12% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2%	37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Swanzey and Orford 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%	5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below NH	26 minHighest 4% below NH
Work from home	9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%	10.8%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Orford and Swanzey 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	—
School district	Monadnock Regional School District	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	Monadnock Regional High School	Rivendell Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	6 photos →	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.