Compare towns
Swanzey vs Surry vs Marlborough
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 oldest population (median age 50).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Marlborough has the most kids (23.5% 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.
| Measure | Swanzey | Surry | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,398Highest |
1,052Lowest |
2,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
44.7±5.1Lowest 3% above NH |
46±9.2 6% above NH |
| Swanzey and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlborough and Surry 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% |
23.3%±7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.7%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey and Marlborough 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% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Surry 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±$11k 18% below NH |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
$69,032±$9kLowest 30% below NH |
| Surry 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 |
$331,400±$23kHighest 18% below NH |
$267,200±$35k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,508±$303 about the NH average |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,133±$323Lowest 24% below NH |
| Surry and Swanzey 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 |
$6,384Highest 4% below NH |
$6,362 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±25.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.7% NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 9% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
21 minLowest 21% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.3%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Surry and Marlborough 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 | — | Marlborough 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 | 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.