Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Sutton 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
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Sutton has the most kids (20.5% 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.
| Measure | Hampton Beach | Sutton | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605 |
2,239Lowest |
2,799Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
48.1±4.1Lowest 11% above NH |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Sutton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.3% NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Sutton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
| Sutton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$362,600±$16k 10% below NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
| Sutton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 8% below NH |
$7,652Highest 15% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Hampton Beach 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 | — | Kearsarge Regional School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | — | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.