Compare towns
Thornton vs Sutton vs Plainfield vs Canterbury
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%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (95.7%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Canterbury has the most expensive homes ($444k 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 | Sutton | Plainfield | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,799Highest |
2,239Lowest |
2,522 |
2,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
| Thornton and Canterbury 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% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Canterbury and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
49.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Sutton 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 |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
| Sutton and Canterbury 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 |
$362,600±$16k 10% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$443,700±$21kHighest 10% above NH |
| Canterbury and Plainfield 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 |
$1,656±$614 11% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$7,421 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Canterbury 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Thornton School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Plainfield School District | Shaker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.