Compare towns
Thornton vs Springfield 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 people working from home (29.8%).
Springfield has the most kids (15.1% under 18).
Waterville Valley has the most expensive homes ($563k median).
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 | Springfield | Waterville Valley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Highest |
1,122 |
290Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4Lowest 18% above NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
61.6±16.5Highest 42% above NH |
| Waterville Valley and Springfield 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% |
15.1%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
8.6%±11.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Springfield and Thornton 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% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
43.1%±9.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
71.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
0.3%±4.3 NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Waterville Valley 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 |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$105,625±$50kHighest 7% above NH |
| Waterville Valley and Springfield 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 |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
$562,500±$193kHighest 40% above NH |
| Waterville Valley and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$428Highest 15% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,150±$382 23% below NH |
| Thornton and Waterville Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,946Highest 11% below NH |
$5,745 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
81.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.7%±12.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Waterville Valley 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 |
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.