Compare towns
Thornton vs Waterville Valley vs Westmoreland
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%).
Waterville Valley has the most expensive homes ($563k median).
Westmoreland has the most kids (14.5% 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 | Waterville Valley | Westmoreland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Highest |
290Lowest |
2,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— | -9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4Lowest 18% above NH |
61.6±16.5Highest 42% above NH |
55.3±2.2 28% above NH |
| Waterville Valley and Westmoreland 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% |
8.6%±11.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Westmoreland 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% |
43.1%±9.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Waterville Valley and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
71.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Westmoreland 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 |
$105,625±$50kHighest 7% above NH |
$104,444±$28k 5% above NH |
| Waterville Valley and Westmoreland 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 |
$562,500±$193kHighest 40% above NH |
$351,800±$12kLowest 13% below NH |
| Waterville Valley and Thornton 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 |
$1,150±$382Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,354±$280Highest 9% below NH |
| Westmoreland and Thornton 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 |
$5,745 14% below NH |
$6,643Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
32.5%±23.2Lowest 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% NH: 72.8% |
81.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 15% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
23 minHighest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.7%±12.6 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6.3Lowest 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 | Westmoreland 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.