Compare towns
Rumney vs Thornton vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rumney has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k 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.
| Measure | Rumney | Thornton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,458Lowest |
2,799 |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Meredith and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rumney and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Rumney and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,444±$21kLowest 20% below NH |
$90,022±$17kHighest 9% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| Thornton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,800±$37kLowest 23% below NH |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$100Lowest 29% below NH |
$1,270±$428Highest 15% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
| Thornton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,716Lowest 29% below NH |
$5,032Highest 25% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±21.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.8% NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14.4%±7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Meredith 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rumney School District | Thornton School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.