What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).

Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Middleton	Thornton
People
Population	9,816Highest	2,799Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8% U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S.	51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.2%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Middleton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thornton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Thornton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S.	$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S.	$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average	$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S.
	Middleton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,785Highest 182% above U.S.	$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thornton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#71 of 282 in MA	#18 of 120 in NH
School district	Middleton	Thornton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.