What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the most kids (20.3% under 18).

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	Northfield	Thornton
People
Population	4,971Highest	2,799Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.6±5.1Lowest about the NH average	51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH
	Thornton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2%	13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Northfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	19%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1%
	Thornton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	46.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.5Highest NH: 6%	4.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 6%
	Northfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,917±$15kHighest 6% below NH	$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH
	Northfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH	$351,900±$20kHighest 13% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH	$1,270±$428Highest 15% below NH
	Thornton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,097Highest 24% below NH	$5,032Lowest 25% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Thornton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	9.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	88.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest same as NH	1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 4% below NH	23 minLowest 15% below NH
Work from home	6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#109 of 120 in NH	#18 of 120 in NH
School district	Winnisquam Regional 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.