Compare towns
Rumney vs Thornton vs Orford vs Lincoln
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 youngest population (median age 44.5).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Lincoln has the most renters (28% rent).
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 | Orford | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,458 |
2,799Highest |
1,295Lowest |
1,461 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
46.8±10.1 8% above NH |
| Thornton and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.4%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lincoln and Rumney 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% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
28.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lincoln and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
38.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.3 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Orford and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,444±$21k 20% below NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
$92,571±$24kHighest 7% below NH |
$70,625±$54kLowest 29% below NH |
| Orford and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,800±$37k 23% below NH |
$351,900±$20kHighest 13% below NH |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
$342,000±$38k 15% below NH |
| Thornton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$100Lowest 29% below NH |
$1,270±$428Highest 15% below NH |
$1,263±$686 15% below NH |
$1,143±$498 23% below NH |
| Thornton and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,716 29% below NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
$5,836Highest 12% below NH |
$2,984Lowest 55% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±21.3 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.7%±26 NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Lincoln 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% |
5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.8% NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.5% NH: 72.8% |
72%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.4%±7 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±8.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Lincoln 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 | — | — |
| School district | Rumney School District | Thornton School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy | Lin-Wood Public School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Highest |
7.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.