Compare towns
Hancock vs Thornton vs Harrisville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most renters (14.4% rent).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Harrisville has the oldest population (median age 58.9).
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 | Hancock | Thornton | Harrisville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791 |
2,799Highest |
885Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
51.1±3.4Lowest 18% above NH |
58.9±5.5Highest 36% above NH |
| Harrisville and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.4%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Harrisville and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
35.8%±10.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Harrisville and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.7%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$103,036±$13kHighest 4% above NH |
| Harrisville and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22kHighest 8% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$430,500±$48k 7% above NH |
| Hancock and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,611±$367Highest 8% above NH |
| Harrisville and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884Highest 3% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,329 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
35%±90.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Thornton School District | Harrisville School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.