What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).

Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).

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	Middleton
People
Population	2,799Lowest	9,816Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8% U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S.	43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Middleton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thornton and Middleton 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 U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Thornton and Middleton 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.	$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S.	$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S.	$1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average
	Middleton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S.	$8,785Highest 182% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thornton and Middleton 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%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#18 of 120 in NH	#71 of 282 in MA
School district	Thornton School District	Middleton
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.