Compare towns
Dedham vs Dublin vs Thornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Dublin has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Dedham | Dublin | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
1,688Lowest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
49.3±8.4 27% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dublin and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dublin and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$104,659±$14k 30% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$430,500±$72k 29% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,325±$165 6% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,165Highest 162% above U.S. |
$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | — | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dedham | Contoocook Valley School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.