Compare towns
Plymouth vs Thornton vs Sandwich
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 24.6).
Thornton has the most kids (13.9% under 18).
Sandwich has the highest household income ($141k).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Sandwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,601Highest |
2,799 |
1,757Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
63.6±2.8Highest 47% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
7%±3Lowest 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+ | 12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
46.6%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54% NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
3.7%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
$140,694±$22kHighest 42% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
$437,700±$79kHighest 9% above NH |
| Sandwich and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,679±$1kHighest 13% above NH |
| Sandwich and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288Highest 6% below NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
$4,494Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.4%±41.6 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 | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
94%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7 NH: 16.8% |
36.1%±16.9Highest 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 | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Thornton School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.