Compare towns
Ashland vs Plainfield vs Thornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Ashland | Plainfield | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
2,522 |
2,799Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
| Thornton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
| Plainfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 4% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Plainfield School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.