Compare towns
Plymouth vs Thornton vs Grantham
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).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
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 | Thornton | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,969Highest |
2,799Lowest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
50.4±7.5 16% above NH |
| Thornton and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Grantham and Thornton 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% |
19%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Thornton and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,500±$32kLowest 10% below NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
$106,403±$54kHighest 7% above NH |
| Grantham and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,400±$28kLowest 27% below NH |
$351,900±$20kHighest 13% below NH |
$343,100±$39k 15% below NH |
| Thornton and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,296±$295Highest 13% below NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
— |
| Plymouth and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 about the NH average |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,605Highest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
— |
| Thornton and Plymouth 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% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 39% below NH |
23 minHighest 15% below NH |
23 min 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #47 of 120 in NH | #18 of 120 in NH | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Thornton School District | Grantham 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.