Compare towns
Thornton vs Townsend vs Campton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Campton has the most homeowners (94.3%).
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 | Townsend | Campton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Lowest |
9,100Highest |
3,407 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.2±3.7 26% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Campton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±6.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Campton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±10.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Campton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Campton and Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$118,870±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Campton 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$356,300±$38k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
— |
| Townsend and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$6,028 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.6%±44.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #68 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Thornton School District | North Middlesex | Campton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.

