Compare towns
Dublin vs Hampton Falls vs Lyme vs Thornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dublin has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k median).
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 | Hampton Falls | Lyme | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,688Lowest |
2,328 |
1,710 |
2,799Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4 14% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
| Thornton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dublin and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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 NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 6% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$72k 7% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165 11% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Lyme 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 | — | — | — | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Hampton Falls School District | Lyme School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.