Compare towns
North Hampton vs Thornton vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
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%).
Canterbury has the youngest population (median age 48.6).
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 | North Hampton | Thornton | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543Highest |
2,799 |
2,353Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
48.6±3.8Lowest 12% 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% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Canterbury 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% |
22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Canterbury 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% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Thornton 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 |
$129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
| North Hampton and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
| Canterbury and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,421 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Thornton 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% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Lowest 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 | Shaker Regional 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.