Compare towns
Dublin vs Wells 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 kids (21.4% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,688Lowest |
11,713Highest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4Lowest 27% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4 31% above U.S. |
| Wells 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 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dublin and Wells 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thornton and Wells 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 30% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17k 12% above U.S. |
| Dublin and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$72k 29% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Wells and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165 6% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Wells 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$5,032 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Wells 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% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.