Compare towns
Wilder vs Swanzey vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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.
| Measure | Wilder | Swanzey | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
7,398Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
50±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Swanzey and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$81,595±$11k about the U.S. average |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$259,200±$15kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,508±$303Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Swanzey and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$5,558 78% above U.S. |
$6,435Highest 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swanzey and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #102 of 120 in NH | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Monadnock Regional School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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 | 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.