Compare towns
Dublin vs Kensington vs Thornton vs Peterborough
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).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
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 | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,688Lowest |
2,009 |
2,799 |
6,408Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4 14% above NH |
43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
52.1±1.9Highest 20% above NH |
| Peterborough and Thornton 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% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Dublin and Kensington 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% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Peterborough 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% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest 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% |
2%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$98,401±$8k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$72k 7% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$404,500±$31k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165 11% below NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,395±$209 6% below NH |
| Kensington and Peterborough 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 |
$8,655 30% above 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% |
29.2%±7.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Dublin 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% |
5.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%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 |
1970 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
23 minLowest 16% 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% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest 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 | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Kensington School District | Thornton School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.