What stands out worked out from the figures below

Seabrook has the most expensive homes ($444k median).

Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Seabrook	Thornton
People
Population	8,427Highest	2,799Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	54±1.9Highest 25% above NH	51.1±3.4Lowest 18% above NH
	Seabrook and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±3.1Highest NH: 18.2%	13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Seabrook and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.5%±5Highest NH: 20.1%	19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	46.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%	4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
	Thornton and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,349±$15kLowest 15% below NH	$90,022±$17kHighest 9% below NH
	Thornton and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$443,500±$40kHighest 10% above NH	$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,542±$174Highest 3% above NH	$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH
	Seabrook and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,785Highest 13% below NH	$5,032Lowest 25% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±10Lowest NH: 48.2%	57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Thornton and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	9.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	88.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH	1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below NH	23 minHighest 15% below NH
Work from home	10.5%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#114 of 120 in NH	#18 of 120 in NH
School district	Seabrook 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

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.