Compare towns
Thornton vs Grantham vs Chesterfield
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%).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
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 | Grantham | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Lowest |
3,465 |
3,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
50.4±7.5 16% above NH |
46.8±8.7Lowest 8% above NH |
| Thornton and Grantham 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% |
19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.5%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Chesterfield and Grantham 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%±6.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.8%±7.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$106,403±$54kHighest 7% above NH |
$102,370±$40k 3% above NH |
| Grantham 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±$20k 13% below NH |
$343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
$373,500±$33kHighest 7% 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±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
— | $1,324±$1kHighest 11% 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 | $5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,605Highest 14% above NH |
$6,344 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
— | 83.7%±100Highest 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% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.9 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 | #6 of 120 in NH | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Thornton School District | Grantham School District | Chesterfield 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.