Compare towns
Hancock vs Thornton vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791Lowest |
2,799Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4 31% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Hancock and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17k 12% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Hancock and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428Highest 10% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| 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 121% above U.S. |
$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Thornton School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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 |
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.