Compare towns
Canterbury vs East Kingston 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
Canterbury has the most kids (17.4% under 18).
East Kingston has the most expensive homes ($576k median).
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 | Canterbury | East Kingston | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,353 |
2,311Lowest |
2,799Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±3.8Lowest 12% above NH |
51.7±8.9Highest 19% above NH |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
| East Kingston and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.1%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Canterbury and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
27.1%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| East Kingston and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$138,194±$38kHighest 40% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
| East Kingston and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$575,500±$56kHighest 43% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
— | $1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,421 11% above NH |
$9,604Highest 44% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% NH: 72.8% |
96.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1994Highest 15 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.6%±7.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.1%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and East Kingston 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 | Shaker Regional School District | East Kingston 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 | 9 photos → | 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.