Compare towns
Thornton vs Wakefield 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%).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
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 | Wakefield | Campton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Lowest |
5,405Highest |
3,407 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
+0.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
49.2±3.7Lowest 14% above NH |
| Thornton and Wakefield 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%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±6.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Campton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±10.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
51.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
1.4%±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 |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
$118,870±$21kHighest 20% above NH |
| Campton and Wakefield 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 |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$356,300±$38kHighest 11% below NH |
| Campton and Thornton 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 |
$1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH |
— |
| Wakefield and Thornton 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 |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$6,028Highest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest 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% |
7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest 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 | #118 of 120 in NH | #68 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Thornton School District | Wakefield School District | Campton School District |
| High school in town | None 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.