Compare towns
Marlborough vs Temple 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
Marlborough has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Temple has the most expensive homes ($401k median).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Marlborough | Temple | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,207 |
1,363Lowest |
2,799Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.2Lowest 6% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
| Thornton and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlborough and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Marlborough and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% NH: 40.6% |
36.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
1.7%±1.1 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,032±$9kLowest 30% below NH |
$94,107±$15kHighest 5% below NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
| Temple and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,200±$35kLowest 34% below NH |
$401,000±$27kHighest about the NH average |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$323Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,169±$523 22% below NH |
$1,270±$428Highest 15% below NH |
| Thornton and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,362 5% below NH |
$6,983Highest 5% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±25.3 NH: 48.2% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.4% NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.2% NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.3%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Temple 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 | Marlborough School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Thornton 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.