Compare towns
Swanzey vs Williston vs Seabrook
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 most affordable homes ($259k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Seabrook has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Seabrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,398Lowest |
10,144Highest |
8,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±3.1 29% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
54±1.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Seabrook and Swanzey 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% |
14.8%±3.1Lowest 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Seabrook and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$84,349±$15k 4% above U.S. |
| Williston and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $259,200±$15kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$443,500±$40k 33% above U.S. |
| Williston and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,508±$303Lowest 7% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,542±$174 9% above U.S. |
| Williston and Seabrook 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. |
$5,785Highest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swanzey and Seabrook 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #102 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT | #114 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Seabrook School District |
| High school in town | Monadnock Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.