Compare towns
Dublin vs Hardwick 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 most expensive homes ($431k median).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Hardwick | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,688Lowest |
2,684 |
2,799Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4 27% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Lowest 16% 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% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dublin and Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dublin and Hardwick 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% |
30.9%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% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick 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±$14kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$90,022±$17k 12% above U.S. |
| Dublin and Thornton 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. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
| Dublin and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428 10% below U.S. |
| Dublin and Thornton 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. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,032 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Quabbin | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.