Compare towns
Dublin vs Lyme vs Durham 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).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Lyme | Durham | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,688Lowest |
1,710 |
15,080Highest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4 14% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9 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% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,659±$14k 6% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
| Lyme and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$72k 7% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165 11% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
| Durham 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%±8.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
21 min 22% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.