What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mont Vernon has the highest household income ($158k).

Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k 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.

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

Measure	Mont Vernon	Thornton
People
Population	2,636Lowest	2,799Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.3%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.9±2.8Lowest about the NH average	51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH
Kids under 18	22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2%	13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Mont Vernon and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	19%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1%
	Thornton and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.8%Highest NH: 40.6%	46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6%	4.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 6%
	Mont Vernon and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH	$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH	$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH	$1,270±$428Highest 15% below NH
	Thornton and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,432Highest 41% above NH	$5,032Lowest 25% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±80.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Thornton and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	9.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	88.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above NH	23 minLowest 15% below NH
Work from home	26.6%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Thornton and Mont Vernon 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	#4 of 120 in NH	#18 of 120 in NH
School district	Mont Vernon School District	Thornton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.