Compare towns
Canterbury vs Nelson 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 highest household income ($129k).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Nelson | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,353 |
648Lowest |
2,799Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
| Thornton and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Canterbury 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% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson 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% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
| Canterbury and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,700±$21kHighest 10% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,421Highest 11% above NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.6%±7.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | Shaker Regional School District | Nelson 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.