Compare towns
Canterbury vs Ogunquit vs Thornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canterbury has the most kids (17.4% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,353 |
1,379Lowest |
2,799Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±3.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4 31% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Canterbury and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 60% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,700±$21k 33% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,136±$233Highest 51% above U.S. |
— | $1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,421Highest 138% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,032 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.7%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.