Compare towns

Windham vs Thornton vs Worcester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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.

MeasureWindhamThorntonWorcester
People
Population
594Lowest
2,799Highest
831
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+8.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
51.1±3.4Highest
31% above U.S.
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
Thornton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.9%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12kHighest
17% above U.S.
$90,022±$17k
12% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
Windham and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
$351,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
Windham 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.
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
Thornton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$5,032
61% above U.S.
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
57.7%±24.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thornton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.8%±9.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Thornton and Worcester 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.