Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Thornton vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Topsham has the youngest population (median age 44.7).
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 Falls | Thornton | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,328Lowest |
2,799 |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,032 61% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Hampton Falls 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 | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Thornton School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
| 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.