Compare towns
Holderness vs Thornton vs Madbury
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1981).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
2,799Highest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Holderness 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±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Holderness and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest 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% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Holderness School District | Thornton School District | Oyster River Coop 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.