What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k 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.

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

Measure	North Hampton	Thornton
People
Population	4,543Highest	2,799Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.5±3.3Lowest 17% above NH	51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH
	Thornton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2%	13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	North Hampton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1%	19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	North Hampton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%	4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
	Thornton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH	$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH	$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH	$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,529Highest 28% above NH	$5,032Lowest 25% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2%	57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Thornton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	9.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	88.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984 5 yrs newer than NH	1984 5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 8% below NH	23 minLowest 15% below NH
Work from home	25.9%±6.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Thornton and North Hampton 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	#12 of 120 in NH	#18 of 120 in NH
School district	North Hampton 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.