Compare towns
Winchester vs Swanzey vs Boscawen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchester has the youngest population (median age 42.6).
Swanzey has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Boscawen has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
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 | Winchester | Swanzey | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,212 |
7,398Highest |
4,044Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±4.5Lowest about the NH average |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
46±4.2 6% above NH |
| Swanzey and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Winchester and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Boscawen and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Swanzey and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,723±$11kLowest 32% below NH |
$81,595±$11kHighest 18% below NH |
$77,328±$27k 22% below NH |
| Swanzey and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,900±$20kLowest 40% below NH |
$259,200±$15k 36% below NH |
$286,500±$23kHighest 29% below NH |
| Boscawen and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,209±$143Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,508±$303Highest about the NH average |
$1,265±$307 15% below NH |
| Swanzey and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,314Lowest 20% below NH |
$5,558 17% below NH |
$6,549Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45%±17.7 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.1% NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7% NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Boscawen 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 | #120 of 120 in NH | #102 of 120 in NH | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winchester School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Merrimack Valley 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.