Compare towns
Dublin vs Upton vs Thornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dublin has the most renters (16.8% rent).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Upton | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,688Lowest |
8,189Highest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4 27% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
| 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%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dublin and Upton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 30% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$72k 29% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165Highest 6% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428 10% below U.S. |
| Dublin and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165 162% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.