What stands out worked out from the figures below

Epsom has the most kids (18.2% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Epsom	Thornton
People
Population	4,939Highest	2,799Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	47.1±3.4Lowest 9% above NH	51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH
	Thornton and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2%	13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Epsom and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1%	19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Epsom and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%	46.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Highest NH: 6%	4.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 6%
	Epsom and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,941±$13kHighest about the NH average	$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH
	Epsom and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH	$351,900±$20kHighest 13% below NH
	Thornton and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,212±$437Lowest 19% below NH	$1,270±$428Highest 15% below NH
	Thornton and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,210Highest 7% below NH	$5,032Lowest 25% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	71.2%±19.7Highest NH: 48.2%	57.7%±24.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Epsom and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	9.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	88.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH	1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 15% above NH	23 minLowest 15% below NH
Work from home	13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#69 of 120 in NH	#18 of 120 in NH
School district	Epsom 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

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.