Compare towns
Thornton vs Peterborough vs Campton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
Campton has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Peterborough | Campton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Lowest |
6,408Highest |
3,407 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
+0.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
52.1±1.9Highest 20% above NH |
49.2±3.7Lowest 14% above NH |
| Peterborough and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±6.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Campton and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±10.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Peterborough and Campton 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 NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
51.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Campton 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 |
$98,401±$8k about the NH average |
$118,870±$21kHighest 20% above NH |
| Campton and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$404,500±$31kHighest about the NH average |
$356,300±$38k 11% below NH |
| Peterborough and Campton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH |
— |
| Peterborough 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 |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
$6,028 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.6%±44.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Campton 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 NH: 7.2% |
5.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
23 minHighest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
28.3%±10.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Campton 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 | #59 of 120 in NH | #68 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Thornton School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Campton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Conval Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0 |
— |
| 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.