What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dublin has the most affordable homes ($431k median).

Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dublin	Dorset
People
Population	1,688Lowest	2,092Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±8.4Highest 27% above U.S.	45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S.
	Dublin and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%	24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dorset and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dublin and Dorset 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%	72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dublin and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,659±$14kLowest 30% above U.S.	$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Dorset 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±$72kLowest 29% above U.S.	$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,325±$165Lowest 6% below U.S.	$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average
	Dorset and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,165Highest 162% above U.S.	$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.	22 minLowest 18% below U.S.
Work from home	22%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dorset and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.