Compare towns
Barnstead vs Dublin 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
Barnstead has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
Dublin has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
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 | Barnstead | Dublin | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
1,688Lowest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
-4.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
49.3±8.4 14% above NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
| Thornton and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dublin and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
25%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dublin and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.8% NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$104,659±$14k 6% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
| Barnstead and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$430,500±$72kHighest 7% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
| Dublin and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,325±$165 11% below NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
| Barnstead and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$8,165Highest 22% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22%±10.8 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Dublin 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | — | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None 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.