Town · New Hampshire
Thornton, New Hampshire
Thornton, town, in Grafton County, New Hampshire. Thornton had 2,895 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 7.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,708 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,799 (±34). GEOID 3300976740.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
2,895
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,708 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,799 ±34
Median household income
$90,022
±$17,243 (90% margin)
New Hampshire: $99,031
Median home value
$351,900
±$20,231 (90% margin)
New Hampshire: $402,500
Median gross rent
$1,270
±$428 (90% margin)
New Hampshire: $1,491
Where is Thornton and what county is it in?
Thornton is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire. It covers 50.1 square miles of land, 54 residents per square mile in 2020.
Thornton is in the Lebanon-Claremont, NH-VT micropolitan statistical area, which takes in 4 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Thornton is the same area as Census Tract 9604.01 of Grafton County: the tract's figures are Thornton's own.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Thornton, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 2,895 people lived in Thornton on July 1, 2025, up 7.0% since 2020, faster than New Hampshire (+2.7%). The 2020 Census counted 2,708 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,799 (±34).
| Measure | Thornton | Grafton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,799±34 | 92,120 | +295 |
| Households | 1,329±124 | 37,107 | +363 |
| Average household size | 2.08±0.19 | 2.29 | −0.47 |
| Housing units | 2,127±148 | 51,920 | no clear change |
Thornton's population since 2000
From 1,843 in 2000 to 2,895 in 2025: up 57.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Thornton as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Thornton?
The median resident of Thornton is 51.1 years old; 13.9% are under 18 and 19.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.4%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.4%. 6.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Thornton | Grafton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.1±3.4 | 44.1 | +7.0 |
| Under 18 years | 13.9%±4.8 pts | 15.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.0%±4.3 pts | 23.0% | – |
| Male | 52.6%±4.3 pts | 49.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.5%±1.7 pts | 2.9% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 94.4%±3.7 pts | 87.5% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.2 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.7 pts | 3.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.4%±3.2 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 6.0%±3.4 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.5%±2.3 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.7%±3.3 pts | 7.2% | – |
| With a disability | 13.5%±4.9 pts | 14.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.6%±3.9 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 99.2%±0.9 pts | 94.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 46.3%±9.2 pts | 46.7% | +11.0 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 17.3%±5.6 pts | 24.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.6%±5.2 pts | 86.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 7.5%±4.7 pts | 6.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Thornton earn?
Half of Thornton's 1,329 households earn less than $90,022 a year (±$17,243), against $88,261 in Grafton County and $99,031 in New Hampshire. In 2015-2019 it was $82,523 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Thornton | Grafton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $90,022±$17,243 | $88,261 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $102,860±$13,423 | $125,563 | – |
| Per capita income | $50,230±$7,596 | $52,790 | +$10,488 |
| People below the poverty line | 9.2%±4.7 pts | 10.4% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 4.1%±6.0 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.1%±4.0 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.4%±2.9 pts | 95.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.8%±6.0 pts | 90.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Thornton?
Owners occupy 88.3% of Thornton's occupied homes and renters 11.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $351,900 by its owner (±$20,231). The median renter pays $1,270 a month including utilities, and 57.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Thornton | Grafton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $351,900±$20,231 | $344,500 | +$76,471 |
| Median gross rent | $1,270±$428 | $1,301 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 57.7%±30.1 pts | 36.9% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,959±$288 | $2,070 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 88.3%±6.4 pts | 71.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 11.7%±6.4 pts | 28.7% | – |
| Housing units | 2,127±148 | 51,920 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.6%±2.6 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.3%±8.1 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 70.2%±7.0 pts | 61.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.2%±3.3 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.9%±1.2 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.2%±2.4 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.6%±5.2 pts | 20.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 0.8%±1.3 pts | 6.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Thornton building?
Builders took permits for 33 new housing units in Thornton in 2025 (24 in single-family houses), 11.4 per 1,000 residents against 3.6 across New Hampshire.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Thornton work and get to work?
61.1% of Thornton's workers drive alone and 29.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.7 minutes.
| Measure | Thornton | Grafton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 71.8%±8.2 pts | 60.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.3%±1.5 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 61.1%±11.3 pts | 67.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 1.4%±1.8 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±2.0 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 0.5%±1.2 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 29.8%±10.3 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.7 min±5.9 | 22.2 min | −7.9 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Thornton?
1 census tract lies mostly in Thornton (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9604.01Grafton County | 2,799 | $90,022 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Thornton) · Census block assignment files
How does Thornton compare with other places in New Hampshire?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Thornton is the 3,659th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 100th-most populous of 221 in New Hampshire.
Thornton ranks 135th of 235 places in New Hampshire with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 100th | 221 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 10th | 187 |
| Residents per square mile | 203rd | 241 |
| Median household income | 135th | 235 |
| Per capita income | 112th | 240 |
| Median home value | 135th | 239 |
| Median gross rent | 120th | 221 |
| Poverty rate | 63rd | 160 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 62nd | 239 |
| Median age | 56th | 239 |
| Owner-occupied share | 71st | 241 |
| Work from home | 8th | 214 |
| Travel time to work | 189th | 241 |
Thornton's figures with every place in New Hampshire (CSV)
Every place in New Hampshire, sortable · Compare Thornton with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Thornton?
17 of the 57 figures for Thornton on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Thornton are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.