What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dublin has the most kids (21.4% under 18).

Petersham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dublin	Petersham
People
Population	1,688Highest	1,185Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±8.4Lowest 27% above U.S.	56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S.
	Petersham 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 U.S.: 22%	12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Petersham 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dublin and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,659±$14kLowest 30% above U.S.	$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Petersham and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$430,500±$72kHighest 29% above U.S.	$392,400±$20kLowest 18% above U.S.
	Dublin and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,325±$165Lowest 6% below U.S.	$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S.
	Petersham and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,165Highest 162% above U.S.	$4,636Lowest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±8.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dublin and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.	39 minHighest 46% above U.S.
Work from home	22%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dublin and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Petersham
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.