What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

West Bath has the most expensive homes ($423k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Thornton	West Bath
People
Population	2,799Highest	1,863Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.1±3.4Lowest 31% above U.S.	54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S.
	West Bath and Thornton 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%	14.7%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	West Bath and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S.	$103,333±$27kHighest 28% above U.S.
	West Bath and Thornton 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.	$422,800±$102kHighest 27% above U.S.
	West Bath and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,270±$428Highest 10% below U.S.	$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S.
	Thornton and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,032Highest 61% above U.S.	$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thornton and West Bath 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%	3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thornton and West Bath 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	West Bath Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.