What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Thornton	Hampstead
People
Population	2,799Lowest	9,102Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH	45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH
	Thornton and Hampstead 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%	21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Hampstead and Thornton 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%	21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1%
	Hampstead 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 NH: 40.6%	44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 6%	5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6%
	Hampstead and Thornton 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	$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH
	Hampstead 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±$20kLowest 13% below NH	$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH	$1,299±$149Highest 13% below NH
	Hampstead 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	$8,634Highest 30% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2%	44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Thornton and Hampstead 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%	3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 15% below NH	30 minHighest 13% above NH
Work from home	29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8%	21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Thornton and Hampstead 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	#49 of 120 in NH
School district	Thornton School District	Hampstead School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.