Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Thornton vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Sutton has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Wolfeboro | Thornton | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571Highest |
2,799 |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
48.1±4.1Lowest 11% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sutton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45% NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Sutton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
| Sutton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$362,600±$16k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
| Sutton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
$7,652Highest 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Thornton School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.