Compare towns
Dublin vs Dracut 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
Dublin has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Dublin | Dracut | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,688Lowest |
32,574Highest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4 27% above U.S. |
41.7±2Lowest 7% 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 | 21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dublin and Thornton 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% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dracut and Thornton 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. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Dracut 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. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Dublin 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. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165Highest 162% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Dracut 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% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest 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 | — | #201 of 282 in MA | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Dracut | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.