Compare towns
Dublin vs Kensington vs Thornton vs Jaffrey
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Kensington | Thornton | Jaffrey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,688Lowest |
2,009 |
2,799 |
5,448Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4 14% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
42.9±3.9Lowest about the NH average |
| 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%±3 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Jaffrey and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
31.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$92,330±$18k 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$72k 7% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
$245,500±$27kLowest 39% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165 11% below NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
| Kensington and Dublin 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 |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,196 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
45.7%±23 NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Jaffrey 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
81.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | — | #18 of 120 in NH | #87 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Kensington School District | Thornton School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Conant Middle High School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 21.3 |
| 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.