Compare towns

Thornton vs Chesterfield vs Woodstock

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Chesterfield has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Woodstock has the shortest commute (18 min average).

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.

MeasureThorntonChesterfieldWoodstock
People
Population
2,799
3,622Highest
1,214Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-1.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+4.4%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
51.1±3.4Highest
18% above NH
46.8±8.7Lowest
8% above NH
50.9±5.7
18% above NH
Thornton and Woodstock 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%
21.5%±5.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
13.9%±4.7Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Chesterfield and Thornton 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%
28.8%±7.3Highest
NH: 20.1%
26.3%±4.6
NH: 20.1%
Chesterfield and Woodstock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
45.2%
NH: 40.6%
44%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.9Highest
NH: 6%
1.5%±1.4Lowest
NH: 6%
2.2%±1.6
NH: 6%
Thornton and Woodstock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$90,022±$17k
9% below NH
$102,370±$40kHighest
3% above NH
$85,667±$33kLowest
13% below NH
Chesterfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$351,900±$20k
13% below NH
$373,500±$33kHighest
7% below NH
$320,100±$37kLowest
20% below NH
Chesterfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,270±$428
15% below NH
$1,324±$1kHighest
11% below NH
$1,076±$355Lowest
28% below NH
Chesterfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,032
25% below NH
$6,344Highest
5% below NH
$4,707Lowest
29% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.7%±24.7
NH: 48.2%
83.7%±100Highest
NH: 48.2%
38.5%±28.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Chesterfield 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%
8.6%
NH: 7.2%
6.2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
83.6%
NH: 72.8%
75.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
1981Lowest
2 yrs newer than NH
1983
4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
15% below NH
25 minHighest
7% below NH
18 minLowest
34% below NH
Work from home
29.8%±9.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
18.9%±6.9
NH: 16.8%
10.7%±5.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Thornton and Chesterfield 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 #52 of 120 in NH —
School district Thornton School District Chesterfield School District —
High school in town None in town None in town —
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.