Compare towns
Thornton vs Newfields vs Waterville Valley
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 the most affordable homes ($352k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Waterville Valley has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Newfields | Waterville Valley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Highest |
2,023 |
290Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
61.6±16.5Highest 42% above NH |
| Waterville Valley and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
8.6%±11.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields and Thornton 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
43.1%±9.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
71.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$105,625±$50k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$562,500±$193k 40% above NH |
| Newfields and Waterville Valley 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 |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,150±$382Lowest 23% below NH |
| Newfields 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,745 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
81.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.7%±12.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Newfields 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 | Newfields School District | Waterville Valley 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 |
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.