Compare towns
Dublin vs Danvers vs Thornton 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 kids (21.4% under 18).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Danvers | Thornton | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,688Lowest |
28,098Highest |
2,799 |
6,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4 27% above U.S. |
45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4 31% above U.S. |
52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Peterborough and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Dublin and Danvers 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% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thornton and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,659±$14k 30% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$98,401±$8k 22% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$72k 29% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$404,500±$31k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165 6% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,395±$209 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165 162% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA | #18 of 120 in NH | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Thornton School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.