What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

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	Townsend
People
Population	7,398Lowest	9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50±3.1Highest 29% above U.S.	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Townsend 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%	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Townsend 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	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$259,200±$15kLowest 22% below U.S.	$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,508±$303Highest 7% above U.S.	$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Swanzey and Townsend 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.	$6,031Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Swanzey and Townsend 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%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.
Work from home	9.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Townsend and Swanzey 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	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Monadnock Regional School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	Monadnock Regional High School	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	13.1Highest
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.