Compare towns
Campton vs Plymouth vs Ashland 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
Campton has the highest household income ($119k).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 22.8).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Campton | Plymouth | Ashland | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,407 |
4,969Highest |
2,183Lowest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3% NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±3.7 14% above NH |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
| Thornton and Campton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±6.8 NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Campton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±10.9 NH: 20.1% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Campton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2% NH: 40.6% |
63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.2 NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,870±$21kHighest 20% above NH |
$89,500±$32k 10% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
| Campton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,300±$38kHighest 11% below NH |
$294,400±$28k 27% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
| Campton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,296±$295Highest 13% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
| Plymouth and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,028 10% below NH |
$6,483Highest about the NH average |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.6%±44.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Campton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
17% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 28.3%±10.8 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Campton 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 | #68 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | — | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Campton School District | — | Ashland 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 | 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.