Compare towns
Jefferson vs Thornton vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k 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 | Jefferson | Thornton | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,013Lowest |
2,799Highest |
1,375 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 34% above NH |
51.1±3.4Lowest 18% above NH |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Thornton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4% NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH |
$90,022±$17kHighest 9% below NH |
$87,500±$16k 12% below NH |
| Thornton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92k 26% below NH |
$351,900±$20kHighest 13% below NH |
$276,100±$29kLowest 31% below NH |
| Thornton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
| Unity and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
$5,394Highest 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 29% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Jefferson 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 | — | Thornton School District | Unity 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.