Compare towns
Waterville Valley vs Eaton vs Thornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville Valley has the most expensive homes ($563k median).
Eaton has the most homeowners (96.9%).
Thornton has the most kids (13.9% 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 | Waterville Valley | Eaton | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 290Lowest |
501 |
2,799Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +8.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 61.6±16.5Highest 42% above NH |
59.6±14 38% above NH |
51.1±3.4Lowest 18% above NH |
| Waterville Valley and Eaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.6%±11.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
9.6%±5 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Thornton and Eaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 43.1%±9.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
41.3%±15.7 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Waterville Valley and Eaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
51.5% NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 6% |
1.2%±2.9 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Eaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,625±$50kHighest 7% above NH |
$79,063±$9kLowest 20% below NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
| Waterville Valley and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $562,500±$193kHighest 40% above NH |
$377,300±$62k 6% below NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
| Waterville Valley and Eaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$382Lowest 23% below NH |
— | $1,270±$428Highest 15% below NH |
| Thornton and Waterville Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,745Highest 14% below NH |
$4,014Lowest 40% below NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest 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 | 6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.7%±12.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.4%±12.8 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Eaton 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 | Waterville Valley School District | — | Thornton School District |
| High school 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.