What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dublin has the most kids (21.4% under 18).

Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dublin	Worcester
People
Population	1,688Highest	831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±8.4Highest 27% above U.S.	47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S.
	Dublin and Worcester 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%	12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dublin and Worcester 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Worcester 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 30% above U.S.	$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S.
	Dublin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$430,500±$72kHighest 29% above U.S.	$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,325±$165Highest 6% below U.S.	$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,165Highest 162% above U.S.	$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±8.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dublin and Worcester 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%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	22%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Worcester and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.