Compare towns
Dublin vs Athol vs Peterborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dublin has the most people working from home (22%).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
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 | Dublin | Athol | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,688Lowest |
12,011Highest |
6,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4 27% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Peterborough and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peterborough and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dublin and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,659±$14kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$98,401±$8k 22% above U.S. |
| Dublin and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$72kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$404,500±$31k 22% above U.S. |
| Dublin and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165 6% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,395±$209Highest about the U.S. average |
| Peterborough and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165 162% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dublin and Peterborough 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Athol-Royalston | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.