Compare towns
Thornton vs Middlesex vs Canterbury
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Canterbury has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Middlesex | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.6±3.8 25% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Canterbury 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canterbury and Middlesex 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 12% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$129,333±$37kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$443,700±$21kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$2,136±$233Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$7,421Highest 138% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
71.7%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canterbury 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Shaker Regional 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 |
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.