Compare towns
Campton vs Plymouth vs Thornton vs Ellsworth
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 most kids (19.5% under 18).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Ellsworth has the oldest population (median age 61.8).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Thornton | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,407 |
6,601Highest |
2,799 |
51Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±3.7 14% above NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
61.8±13.1Highest 43% above NH |
| Ellsworth and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±6.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±59.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Campton and Thornton 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
39.2%±46.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Ellsworth 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% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
25%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.2 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
0%±33.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,870±$21kHighest 20% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
$89,375±$39k 10% 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 |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
$350,000±$170k 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 | — | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,270±$428Highest 15% below NH |
— |
| Thornton and Plymouth 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 |
$6,288Highest 6% below NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
$3,813Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.6%±44.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
— |
| Work from home | 28.3%±10.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±26.3 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 | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Thornton School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.