Moving to Swanzey, New Hampshire

by btobers · Published June 21, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

Swanzey, New Hampshire is a small town located in the southwestern part of the state. With a population of 6,402 as of 2019, Swanzey is a relatively small town with a rich history. The town is situated on the Connecticut River and is bordered by Winchester to the north and Keene to the south.

The climate in Swanzey is typical of New England with cold winters and warm summers. The average high temperature in July is around 82°F (27°C) while the average low temperature in January is around 8°F (-13°C). The area experiences approximately 40 inches (102 cm) of annual precipitation.

Swanzey was first settled in 1734 by pioneers from Massachusetts and Connecticut and was originally called Lower Ashuelot. The town was incorporated in 1753 as Swanzey after Benjamin Swan, an early settler who established a mill on the Ashuelot River. During colonial times, Swanzey was an important stop on the old stagecoach route between Boston and Albany.

Politics in Swanzey are dominated by Republicans who have held a majority on the Board of Selectmen for several decades. The economy of Swanzey relies heavily on agriculture and tourism with many farms producing dairy products, apples, pumpkins, beef, pork, poultry, eggs, vegetables and hay for sale at local farmers’ markets.

Swanzey has two public schools: Keene High School which serves grades 9-12 and Symonds Elementary School which serves grades K-8. There are also several private schools including Monadnock Christian Academy which offers pre-K through 12th grade classes as well as various religious schools such as St James Catholic School which serves students from pre-K through 8th grade.

As far as landmarks go, there are many historic sites throughout Swanzey including the Old Home Day Monument which commemorates those who have served their country in wars past; the Storrs House Museum which features artifacts from colonial times; and various Revolutionary War monuments located around town such as Bunker Hill Monument near East County Road where General Stark stood his ground against British forces during one of America’s first battles for independence.

Population: 6,800. Estimated population in July 2024: 7,313 (+7.5% change)
Males: 3,354 (49.3%), Females: 3,446 (50.7%)

Cheshire County

Demographics

Median resident age: 38.4 years
Median household income: $44,819
Median house value: $107,000

Population by Race

Races in Swanzey:

White Non-Hispanic (97.9%)
Two or more races (0.6%)
Hispanic (0.6%)

Ancestries: French (17.4%), English (17.3%), Irish (15.9%), United States (9.1%), French Canadian (9.0%), German (7.6%).

Elevation: 491 feet

Population by Education

The population of Swanzey, New Hampshire is 6,717 according to the 2018 US Census. The town has a median age of 41.6 years, with 48.7% of the population being male and 51.3% female. The racial makeup of Swanzey is 97.1% White, 1.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.2% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.9% Asian, and 0.3% from other races.

Swanzey has a cost of living index of 105 which is higher than the national average of 100 for all cities and towns in America; however it is still lower than many other cities in New Hampshire such as Concord (118), Manchester (115), and Nashua (116). The median home value in Swanzey is $250,000 which is much lower than the state average of $387,300 and significantly lower than nearby cities such as Keene ($272,400) and Nashua ($322,000). The median household income in Swanzey is $59,539 which is slightly lower than the state average of $62,848 but higher than many nearby towns like Winchester ($51,907) and Chesterfield ($50,231). Renting an apartment in Swanzey costs an average monthly rent of $1125 per month; significantly lower than nearby cities like Nashua ($1321), Keene ($1300), and Concord ($1250).

For population 25 years and over in Swanzey

High school or higher: 83.8%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 5.4%
Unemployed: 4.4%
Mean travel time to work: 22.2 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Swanzey town

Never married: 22.9%
Now married: 57.5%
Separated: 1.5%
Widowed: 6.5%
Divorced: 11.5%

2.3% Foreign born (1.1% Europe, 0.6% Asia, 0.5% North America).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Swanzey:

CHESHIRE MEDICAL CENTER,THE (about 6 miles; KEENE, NH)
ATHOL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 21 miles; ATHOL, MA)
MONADNOCK COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 23 miles; PETERBOROUGH, NH)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Swanzey:

WESTOVER ARB/METROPOLITAN (about 51 miles; SPRINGFIELD/CHICOPEE, MA; Abbreviation: CEF)
WORCESTER REGIONAL (about 51 miles; WORCESTER, MA; Abbreviation: ORH)
BARNES MUNI (about 58 miles; WESTFIELD/SPRINGFIELD, MA; Abbreviation: BAF)

Other public-use airports nearest to Swanzey:

DILLANT-HOPKINS (about 2 miles; KEENE, NH; Abbreviation: EEN)
JAFFREY AIRPORT-SILVER RANCH (about 21 miles; JAFFREY, NH; Abbreviation: AFN)
ORANGE MUNI (about 21 miles; ORANGE, MA; Abbreviation: ORE)

Amtrak station near Swanzey:

19 miles: BRATTLEBORO (VERNON RD.). Services: enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, call for car rental service, call for taxi service.

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Swanzey:

KEENE STATE COLLEGE (about 6 miles; KEENE, NH; Full-time enrollment: 4,049)
MOUNT WACHUSETT COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 29 miles; GARDNER, MA; Full-time enrollment: 2,023)
FITCHBURG STATE COLLEGE (about 39 miles; FITCHBURG, MA; Full-time enrollment: 3,660)
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS-AMHERST (about 43 miles; AMHERST, MA; Full-time enrollment: 21,468)
SMITH COLLEGE (about 46 miles; NORTHAMPTON, MA; Full-time enrollment: 3,053)
MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE (about 49 miles; SOUTH HADLEY, MA; Full-time enrollment: 2,029)
WORCESTER STATE COLLEGE (about 51 miles; WORCESTER, MA; Full-time enrollment: 3,846)

Libraries

Library in Swanzey:

MT. CAESAR UNION LIBRARY (Operating income: $41,444; Location: 628 OLD HOMESTEAD HIGHWAY; 24,344 books; 240 audio materials; 616 video materials; 17 serial subscriptions)