Compare towns
Thornton vs Gorham vs Chesterfield
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 the most people working from home (29.8%).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Chesterfield has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
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 | Gorham | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Lowest |
18,300Highest |
3,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.8±8.7 20% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Chesterfield 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% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chesterfield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield and Thornton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$102,370±$40k 27% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$373,500±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,324±$1k 6% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,032 61% above U.S. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,344Highest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Gorham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Thornton School District | Gorham Public Schools | Chesterfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.