Compare towns
Thornton vs Keene vs Concord
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Concord has the most kids (17.2% 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 | Keene | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Lowest |
22,939 |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,022±$17kHighest 9% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$84,902±$5k 14% below NH |
| Thornton and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,900±$20kHighest 13% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$350,900±$13k 13% below NH |
| Thornton and Concord 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 |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,441±$43Highest 3% below NH |
| Concord and Keene 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$7,227Highest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 minHighest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #18 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Thornton School District | Keene School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| 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.