Compare towns
Thornton vs Ogunquit vs Waterville Valley
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 kids (13.9% under 18).
Ogunquit has the most expensive homes ($876k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Waterville Valley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Highest |
1,379 |
290Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4Lowest 31% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
61.6±16.5 58% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Waterville Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
8.6%±11.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Thornton and Waterville Valley 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% |
43.1%±9.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Waterville Valley 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% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thornton and Ogunquit 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±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$105,625±$50k 31% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Waterville Valley 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. |
$562,500±$193k 69% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$428Highest 10% below U.S. |
— | $1,150±$382Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Thornton and Waterville Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,032 61% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,745Highest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Waterville Valley 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±12.6Lowest 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 | — | Waterville Valley School District |
| High school 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.