Compare towns
Westmoreland vs Swanzey vs Thornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westmoreland has the highest household income ($104k).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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.
| Measure | Westmoreland | Swanzey | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,237Lowest |
7,398Highest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.3±2.2Highest 28% above NH |
50±3.1Lowest 15% above NH |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
| Westmoreland and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Swanzey and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Westmoreland and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,444±$28kHighest 5% above NH |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
| Westmoreland and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,800±$12k 13% below NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
$351,900±$20kHighest 13% below NH |
| Thornton and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,354±$280 9% below NH |
$1,508±$303Highest about the NH average |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
| Swanzey and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,643Highest about the NH average |
$5,558 17% below NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.5%±23.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 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 | 6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Westmoreland 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 | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Westmoreland School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None 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.