Compare towns
Dublin vs Wolfeboro 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 most kids (21.4% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
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 | Wolfeboro | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,688Lowest |
6,571Highest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4Lowest 14% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Dublin and Thornton 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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% NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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±$14kHighest 6% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
| Dublin and Wolfeboro 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 |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165Highest 11% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
| Dublin and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165Highest 22% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton 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 NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 11% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Wolfeboro 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 120 in NH | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.