Compare towns
Swanzey vs Williston vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
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 | Williston | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,398Lowest |
10,144 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Swanzey and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swanzey and Williston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,595±$11k about the U.S. average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $259,200±$15k 22% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,508±$303 7% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swanzey and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Keene 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Monadnock Regional High School | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.