What stands out worked out from the figures below

Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).

South Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.3%).

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	South Burlington
People
Population	7,398Lowest	20,756Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+13.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50±3.1Highest 29% above U.S.	38.2±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	18%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	19%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	South Burlington 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%	17.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	67.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	South Burlington 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 about the U.S. average	$106,667±$13kHighest 32% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$259,200±$15kLowest 22% below U.S.	$443,400±$19kHighest 33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,508±$303Lowest 7% above U.S.	$1,787±$59Highest 26% above U.S.
	South Burlington and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,558Lowest 78% above U.S.	$6,674Highest 114% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42.9%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Swanzey and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	61.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.	18 minLowest 33% below U.S.
Work from home	9.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#102 of 120 in NH	#12 of 70 in VT
School district	Monadnock Regional School District	South Burlington School District
High school in town	Monadnock Regional High School	South Burlington High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	11.0Lowest
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.