Compare towns
Plymouth vs Sandwich vs Thornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 22.8).
Sandwich has the highest household income ($141k).
Thornton has the most kids (13.9% under 18).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Sandwich | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,969Highest |
1,757Lowest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
63.6±2.8Highest 47% above NH |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
7%±3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Thornton and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
46.6%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63.3% NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,500±$32kLowest 10% below NH |
$140,694±$22kHighest 42% above NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,400±$28kLowest 27% below NH |
$437,700±$79kHighest 9% above NH |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
| Sandwich and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,296±$295 13% below NH |
$1,679±$1kHighest 13% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
| Sandwich and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest about the NH average |
$4,494Lowest 33% below NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.4%±41.6 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 39% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
36.1%±16.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandwich and Thornton 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | — | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative 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 | 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.