Compare towns

Thornton vs Ogunquit 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 the most affordable homes ($352k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Canterbury has the most kids (17.4% 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.

MeasureThorntonOgunquitCanterbury
People
Population
2,799Highest
1,379Lowest
2,353
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.1±3.4
31% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
48.6±3.8Lowest
25% above U.S.
Kids under 18
13.9%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Canterbury and Thornton 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%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.8%±3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Canterbury 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
12% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$129,333±$37kHighest
60% above U.S.
Canterbury and Ogunquit 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.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$443,700±$21k
33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,270±$428Lowest
10% below U.S.
—
$2,136±$233Highest
51% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,032
61% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% 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%±61.1Lowest
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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
Work from home
29.8%±9.7
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.6%±7.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Thornton 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 — Shaker Regional School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.