Compare towns
Hancock vs Thornton vs Newbury
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Newbury has the highest household income ($116k).
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 | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791Lowest |
2,799Highest |
2,027 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
51.1±3.4Lowest 18% above NH |
53.3±3.6 23% above NH |
| Hancock and Newbury 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% |
17%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Newbury and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.6%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
53% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.3Lowest 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 |
$116,477±$18kHighest 18% above NH |
| Newbury 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±$22k 8% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$463,400±$36kHighest 15% above NH |
| Newbury and Hancock 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±$428Highest 15% below NH |
— |
| Thornton and Hancock 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 |
$5,695 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±24.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Newbury 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% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.1%±7.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Newbury 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 | Contoocook Valley 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 |
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.