Compare towns
Thornton vs Amherst vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k median).
Amherst has the highest household income ($153k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Thornton | Amherst | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Lowest |
11,861 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
| Thornton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Thornton School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.