Compare towns
Dublin vs South Hampton 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
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 | South Hampton | Peterborough | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,688 |
984Lowest |
6,408Highest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4 14% above NH |
45.1±5.3Lowest 4% 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%±3 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Dublin 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% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9 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% |
52.4% 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% |
2.7%±1.6 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±$14k 6% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$98,401±$8k about the NH average |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
| South Hampton 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±$72k 7% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$404,500±$31k about the NH average |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165 11% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,395±$209 6% below NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$8,655 30% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and South Hampton 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.7% NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1970 9 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 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 | South Hampton School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.