What stands out worked out from the figures below

Swanzey has the most kids (18% under 18).

Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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	Thornton
People
Population	7,398Highest	2,799Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50±3.1Lowest 15% above NH	51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH
	Thornton and Swanzey 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%	13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Swanzey and Thornton 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%	19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Swanzey and Thornton 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%	46.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6%	4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
	Thornton 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	$90,022±$17kHighest 9% below NH
	Thornton 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	$351,900±$20kHighest 13% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,508±$303Highest about the NH average	$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH
	Swanzey and Thornton 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	$5,032Lowest 25% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2%	57.7%±24.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Swanzey and Thornton 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%	9.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	88.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 9% below NH	23 minLowest 15% below NH
Work from home	9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%	29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#102 of 120 in NH	#18 of 120 in NH
School district	Monadnock Regional School District	Thornton 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.