Compare towns
Thornton vs Ellsworth 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%).
Ellsworth has the most homeowners (100%).
Waterville Valley has the most expensive homes ($563k 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 | Ellsworth | Waterville Valley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Highest |
51Lowest |
290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% NH: +4.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4Lowest 18% above NH |
61.8±13.1Highest 43% above NH |
61.6±16.5 42% above NH |
| Ellsworth and Waterville Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±59.8 NH: 18.2% |
8.6%±11.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Thornton and Ellsworth 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% |
39.2%±46.4 NH: 20.1% |
43.1%±9.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Waterville Valley and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% NH: 40.6% |
25%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
71.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
0%±33.3Lowest NH: 6% |
0.3%±4.3 NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Waterville Valley 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 |
$89,375±$39kLowest 10% below NH |
$105,625±$50kHighest 7% above NH |
| Waterville Valley 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 |
$350,000±$170kLowest 13% below NH |
$562,500±$193kHighest 40% above NH |
| Waterville Valley and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$428Highest 15% below NH |
— | $1,150±$382Lowest 23% below NH |
| Thornton and Waterville Valley 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 |
$3,813Lowest 43% below NH |
$5,745Highest 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
— | 33.3%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Waterville Valley 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% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
81.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 15% below NH |
— | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±26.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.7%±12.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Ellsworth 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 | — | Waterville Valley 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.