What stands out worked out from the figures below

Swanzey has the most people working from home (9.3%).

Ossipee has the most expensive homes ($326k median).

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	Ossipee
People
Population	7,398Highest	4,521Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6% NH: +4.6%	+0.6% NH: +4.6%
Median age	50±3.1 15% above NH	50±4.6 15% above NH
Kids under 18	18%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Ossipee and Swanzey 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%	26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1%
	Ossipee 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%Highest NH: 40.6%	24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Highest NH: 6%	2.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Swanzey and Ossipee 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	$90,521±$22kHighest 9% below NH
	Ossipee 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	$325,500±$23kHighest 19% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average	$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH
	Ossipee and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,558Highest 17% below NH	$4,401Lowest 34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.7%±19.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Ossipee and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	82%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1979Highest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below NH	33 minHighest 25% above NH
Work from home	9.3%±4Highest NH: 16.8%	5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Swanzey and Ossipee 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	#100 of 120 in NH
School district	Monadnock Regional School District	Governor Wentworth Regional 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

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.