Compare towns
Ashland vs Sandwich 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 kids (21.4% under 18).
Sandwich has the highest household income ($141k).
Thornton has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Sandwich | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
1,757Lowest |
2,799Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
63.6±2.8Highest 47% above NH |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
7%±3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
46.6%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±3 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$140,694±$22kHighest 42% above NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$437,700±$79kHighest 9% above NH |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
| Sandwich and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,679±$1kHighest 13% above NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
| Sandwich and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 26% below NH |
$4,494Lowest 33% below NH |
$5,032Highest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.4%±41.6 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Sandwich 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% |
94%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
36.1%±16.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandwich and Thornton 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 | — | — | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative 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.