Compare towns
Thornton vs Chichester vs Waterville Valley
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 people working from home (29.8%).
Chichester has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Waterville Valley has the shortest commute (14 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.
| Measure | Thornton | Chichester | Waterville Valley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Highest |
2,745 |
290Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
43±3.3Lowest about the NH average |
61.6±16.5Highest 42% above NH |
| Waterville Valley and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
8.6%±11.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Chichester and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
43.1%±9.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
71.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
0.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Chichester 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 |
$109,297±$13kHighest 10% above NH |
$105,625±$50k 7% above NH |
| Chichester and Waterville Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$409,300±$26k about the NH average |
$562,500±$193kHighest 40% above NH |
| Waterville Valley and Chichester 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 |
$2,055±$275Highest 38% above NH |
$1,150±$382Lowest 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,189Highest 8% above NH |
$5,745 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Chichester 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% |
6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
81.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19%±8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.7%±12.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Waterville Valley 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 | #75 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Thornton School District | Chichester School District | Waterville Valley School District |
| High school in town | None 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.