Compare towns
Thornton vs Windham vs Wolfeboro
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 affordable homes ($352k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Wolfeboro has the most renters (21.9% rent).
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 | Windham | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Lowest |
16,038Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Windham 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,032 25% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Wolfeboro 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Thornton School District | Windham School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.