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 (43.7% 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 |
6,408Highest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4Lowest 14% above NH |
52.1±1.9Highest 20% 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% |
16.3%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dublin and Peterborough 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% |
30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest 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% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9 NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$98,401±$8k about the NH average |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
| Dublin and Peterborough 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 |
$404,500±$31k about the NH average |
$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 |
$1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH |
$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 | $8,165 22% above NH |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest 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% |
5.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1970 9 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Conval Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0 |
— |
| 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.