Compare towns
Thornton vs Rumney vs Chesterfield vs Madison
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%).
Rumney has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% 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.
| Measure | Thornton | Rumney | Chesterfield | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,799 |
1,458Lowest |
3,622Highest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.2% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
44.5±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
46.8±8.7 8% above NH |
50.3±9.7 16% above NH |
| Thornton and Madison 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% |
18.7%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.5%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Chesterfield 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% |
24.1%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
28.8%±7.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Chesterfield and Rumney 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 NH: 40.6% |
41.9% NH: 40.6% |
45.2% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Rumney 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±$17k 9% below NH |
$79,444±$21kLowest 20% below NH |
$102,370±$40k 3% above NH |
$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH |
| Madison and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
$309,800±$37kLowest 23% below NH |
$373,500±$33k 7% below NH |
$388,700±$36kHighest 3% below NH |
| Madison and Chesterfield 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 |
$1,064±$100Lowest 29% below NH |
$1,324±$1k 11% below NH |
$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
| Madison and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,032 25% below NH |
$4,716 29% below NH |
$6,344Highest 5% below NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
48.1%±21.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
83.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46 NH: 48.2% |
| Chesterfield and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% NH: 72.8% |
77.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.6% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±7 NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Chesterfield 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 | — | #52 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Thornton School District | Rumney School District | Chesterfield School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.