What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% under 18).

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	Ryegate
People
Population	7,398Highest	1,059Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50±3.1Highest 29% above U.S.	41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ryegate 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%	22.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Swanzey and Ryegate 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 U.S.: 35.7%	29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Swanzey and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,595±$11kHighest about the U.S. average	$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Swanzey and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$259,200±$15kHighest 22% below U.S.	$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S.
	Swanzey and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,508±$303Highest 7% above U.S.	$908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,558Highest 78% above U.S.	$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	55.9%±29.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Swanzey and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	9.3%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Swanzey and Ryegate 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	—
High school in town	Monadnock Regional High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.