Compare towns
Calais vs Thornton vs Middlesex vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Calais | Thornton | Middlesex | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
2,799Highest |
1,943 |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,038 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Thornton School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.