The Town FilesThornton, New Hampshire
Town in Grafton County · population 2,708 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $351,900
- Household income
- $90,022
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 70 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 51.1
Thornton is a town of 2,708 people in Grafton County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $351,900, close to the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of New Hampshire towns, better for retirees than 70% of New Hampshire towns.
How Thornton ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Thornton is worth $351,900, close to the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $90,022, which is more affordable than 46% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,270 a month. 88.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Thornton | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $351,900 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,270 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $90,022 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 88.3% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 33.6% | — |
Who lives in Thornton
| People | Thornton | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.1 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 13.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.3% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.2% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.0% | — |
| Work from home | 29.8% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 92.5% |
Weather in Thornton
July highs average 77.2°F and January lows 5.7°F. About 53.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 70.2 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 188 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Thornton since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. The strongest, unrated, struck on August 25, 1969 about 3.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 25, 1969.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 25, 1969.
Severe weather in Grafton County since 1996
Grafton County has been included in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4812: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| July 10, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4799: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 19, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 27, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4761: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4740: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Grafton County
Grafton County had 54,323 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,105 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Thornton itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Thornton
1 public school with 173 students, about 7.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thornton Central School | K-8 | 173 | 7.2 |
Towns near Thornton
- Campton, NH8.1 mi · 3,343 people · home $356,300
- Plymouth, NH14.8 mi · 6,682 people · home $292,400
- Plymouth, NH14.8 mi · 4,730 people · home $294,400
- Tamworth, NH17.9 mi · 2,812 people · home $366,800
- Haverhill, NH20.4 mi · 4,585 people · home $247,900
- Moultonborough, NH20.6 mi · 4,918 people · home $644,200
- Meredith, NH21.5 mi · 2,527 people · home $450,000
- Bartlett, NH22.5 mi · 3,200 people · home $371,400
Thornton questions
Is Thornton, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Thornton scores better for retirees than 70% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 65%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.1).
How much does a house cost in Thornton?
The median owner-occupied home in Thornton is valued at $351,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,022, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,270 a month.
What is the weather like in Thornton?
July highs average 77.2°F and January lows 5.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.8 inches of precipitation a year and 70.2 inches of snow.
Does Thornton get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Thornton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events). The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)