What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has the most kids (22% under 18).

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	Pelham	Thornton
People
Population	14,449Highest	2,799Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6%	+8.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH	51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH
Kids under 18	22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2%	13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	19%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1%
	Thornton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest NH: 40.6%	46.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6%	4.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 6%
	Pelham and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH	$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH	$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$88Highest 4% below NH	$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH
	Pelham and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,634Highest 30% above NH	$5,032Lowest 25% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2%	57.7%±24.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Pelham and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	9.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	88.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH	1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 10% above NH	23 minLowest 15% below NH
Work from home	22.8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Thornton and Pelham 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	#48 of 120 in NH	#18 of 120 in NH
School district	Pelham School District	Thornton School District
High school in town	Pelham High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.