West SwanzeyNH
The town was settled in 1849 and has 1,188 residents today.
Is West Swanzey a good place to live?
No town among the 127 in New Hampshire we compare has a lower share of homes lived in by their owners than West Swanzey. West Swanzey’s trail density is 1.9 miles per square mile, where New Hampshire’s towns sit at 1.2 and U.S. towns at 0.4. The biggest park or preserve is Yale Toumey Forest, at 172 acres. We don’t grade West Swanzey yet; the figures below are still real.
1,188 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to West Swanzey: who provides what
West Swanzey is unincorporated, so Cheshire County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 19, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in West Swanzey.
Very high risk in West Swanzey, with inland flooding at the top
Only 6 of the 127 New Hampshire towns we compare have a higher natural-hazard score from FEMA than West Swanzey. FEMA puts 82% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Most of West Swanzey’s workers head elsewhere: there are 0.3 jobs for each of them
For half of commuters, work is under 10 miles away. No town among the 127 in New Hampshire we compare has a lower share of working residents who work in town than West Swanzey. The town’s average commute is recorded as 34 minutes. The top destinations are Keene (34%), Swanzey (11%) and Concord (3%).
| West Swanzey | Typical New Hampshire town | Typical U.S. town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 34 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.7% | 9.7% | 7.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.2% | 6.8% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2024 · ACS
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in West Swanzey
Expect July afternoons of 83° and January nights of 13°, with about 60 inches of snow a winter.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Conserved land covers 11.1% of West Swanzey
In 3 parks and preserves, walkers have 4.9 miles of trail. The parks and preserves spread over 261 acres of West Swanzey.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Yale Toumey Forest | 0.3 mi | 172 |
| 2. Dickinson Memorial Forest | — | 76 |
| 3. Muster Field | — | 13 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
How healthy West Swanzey is
For adults in West Swanzey, the share who had a checkup this year is 75%. 31% of adults locally have obesity; 30% feel lonely.
| West Swanzey | Typical New Hampshire town | Typical U.S. town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 75% | 78% | 79% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 32% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 30% | 33% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 16% | 16% |
| What stands out | West Swanzey | NH |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 14.8% | 8.9% |
| More adults with COPD | 7.8% | 6.2% |
| More adults in fair or poor health | 17.5% | 14.5% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
A older population than New Hampshire as a whole
Four-year graduates account for 43% of adults 25 and older here, against 41% across New Hampshire. People 65 and older are nearly a quarter of residents (20% statewide). West Swanzey’s median age works out to 44.5 years.
| West Swanzey | Typical New Hampshire town | Typical U.S. town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 43% | 39% | 29% |
| Median age | 44.5 years | 44.8 years | 40.5 years |
Ages · share of residents
Education · adults 25 and older
Women and men · all residents
54% women, 46% men
About 85 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±2.9 points). Across New Hampshire, 50.1% of residents are women.
| West Swanzey | NH | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 11.1% | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.8% | 8.9% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.2% | 8.7% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 9.3% | 12.7% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 12.1% | 12.4% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 9.8% | 12.4% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 15.4% | 15.5% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 12.4% | 12.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 11.9% | 7.9% | 7% |
| No diploma | 6.1% | 5.6% | 10.4% |
| High school | 30.2% | 26.8% | 26% |
| Some college | 12.2% | 17.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8.9% | 9.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 27.4% | 24.5% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 15.2% | 16.1% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,200, single groups can be off by several points
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Everything we know about West Swanzey
Colleges nearby
5 within 15 miles of the center of West Swanzey
About 1 of every 100 West Swanzey residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across New Hampshire.
98% of working residents leave West Swanzey for work
Where West Swanzey’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2024
Questions about West Swanzey
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is West Swanzey, NH a good place to live?
We don’t grade West Swanzey yet; the figures below are still real.