Compare towns
Dublin vs Peterborough 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).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.3% 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 | Peterborough | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,688Lowest |
2,539 |
2,799Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4Lowest 14% above NH |
55.5±9.2Highest 28% above NH |
51.1±3.4 18% 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% |
10.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Dublin and Thornton 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% |
35.1%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest 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±$14kHighest 6% above NH |
$85,833±$15kLowest 13% below NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
| 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 7% above NH |
$379,300±$57k 6% below NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
| Dublin and Peterborough 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 |
$1,515±$290Highest about the NH average |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
| Peterborough and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165Highest 22% above NH |
$7,422 11% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.9%±20.1 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Peterborough 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% |
3.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% NH: 72.8% |
56.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 11 yrs older than NH |
1954Lowest 25 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±6.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest 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 | — | #59 of 120 in NH | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.