Compare towns
Thornton vs Dummerston vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
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 | Dummerston | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Highest |
2,090 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thornton and Brookline 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 12% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Dummerston 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±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Thornton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,032Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Dummerston 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 | Thornton School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.