Compare towns
Thornton vs Lincoln vs Bennington
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%).
Lincoln has the most renters (28% rent).
Bennington has the most kids (26% 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 | Lincoln | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Highest |
1,461Lowest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
46.8±10.1 8% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Thornton and Lincoln 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% |
19.4%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Lincoln 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% |
28.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lincoln 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% |
38.6% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,022±$17kHighest 9% below NH |
$70,625±$54kLowest 29% below NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
| Thornton and Bennington 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 |
$342,000±$38k 15% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Thornton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,143±$498Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
| Bennington and Thornton 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 |
$2,984Lowest 55% below NH |
$5,944Highest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.7%±26 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Lincoln 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% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±8.1 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Lincoln 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 | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lin-Wood Public School (High) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.4 |
— |
| 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.