Compare towns
Enfield vs Wilder 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
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
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 | Enfield | Wilder | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,475Highest |
3,087 |
2,799Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±5.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4 31% above U.S. |
| Enfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 7.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Thornton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Enfield and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,474±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$90,022±$17k 12% above U.S. |
| Enfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,800±$71kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$351,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
| Enfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,181±$563 16% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Thornton and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,203Highest 99% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.8%±16.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #5 of 120 in NH | — | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | — | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.