Compare towns
Dublin vs Wakefield vs Peterborough
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 homeowners (83.2%).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
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 | Wakefield | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,688Lowest |
27,793Highest |
6,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4 27% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Peterborough 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% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dublin and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wakefield 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. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$98,401±$8kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$72k 29% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$404,500±$31kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,395±$209 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165 162% above U.S. |
$7,779Lowest 149% above U.S. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wakefield 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield 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 | — | #179 of 282 in MA | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| 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.