Compare towns
Lee vs Sutton vs Thornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most expensive homes ($481k median).
Sutton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Thornton has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Lee | Sutton | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Highest |
2,239Lowest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
| Thornton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
| Lee and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$362,600±$16k 10% below NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
| Sutton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.7% NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.