Compare towns
Holderness vs Thornton vs Ellsworth vs Center Harbor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holderness has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Ellsworth has the most homeowners (100%).
Center Harbor has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
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 | Holderness | Thornton | Ellsworth | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917 |
2,799Highest |
51Lowest |
955 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4Lowest 9% below NH |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
61.8±13.1Highest 43% above NH |
60.4±4.8 39% above NH |
| Ellsworth and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±59.8 NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Holderness and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.2%±46.4 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
25%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
47.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
0%±33.3Lowest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45kHighest 9% above NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
$89,375±$39kLowest 10% below NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
| Holderness and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
$350,000±$170kLowest 13% below NH |
$463,800±$74kHighest 15% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
— | — |
| Holderness and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923 41% below NH |
$5,032Highest 25% below NH |
$3,813Lowest 43% below NH |
$4,667 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
— | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
— | 25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±26.3 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Ellsworth 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 | Holderness 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 | 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.