Compare towns
Thornton vs Calais vs Dublin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Dublin has the most expensive homes ($431k 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.
| Measure | Thornton | Calais | Dublin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Highest |
1,713 |
1,688Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
49.3±8.4 27% 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 | 13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dublin and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$104,659±$14kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Dublin and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$430,500±$72kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Dublin and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,325±$165 6% below U.S. |
| Calais and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$8,165Highest 162% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Calais 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Thornton School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.