Is West Swanzey, NH a Good Place to Live?
West Swanzey is a small town of 1,200 in New Hampshire, with a median household income of $57,762 and a 5.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 102 (US average = 100), which is 2% above the national average.
Strengths: West Swanzey stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether West Swanzey is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All West Swanzey city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 101.6West Swanzey's overall cost of living index is 101.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in West Swanzey costs roughly 2% more than the average American city.
| Metric | West Swanzey, NH | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $183,800 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,354 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.2% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $57,762 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeWest Swanzey's violent crime rate is 144.6 per 100,000 residents — 62% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
West Swanzey is served primarily by Monadnock Regional School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | West Swanzey, NH | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Monadnock Regional School District | — |
| Elementary Schools | 5 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 12.5:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 92.2% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
West Swanzey sees average highs of 30.4°F in January and 81.9°F in July, with 46.1 inches of annual precipitation and 59.8 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | West Swanzey, NH |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 30.4°F |
| Average High — July | 81.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.8" |
Demographics
| Metric | West Swanzey, NH | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,200 | — |
| Median Age | 38.5 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 22.5 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 100.0% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.0% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 0.0% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 23.3% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in West Swanzey
West Swanzey, NH is covered by 1 ZIP code: