Compare towns
Thornton vs Hampton Beach vs Dublin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Dublin has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Hampton Beach | Dublin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Highest |
2,605 |
1,688Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
49.3±8.4Lowest 14% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±3Highest 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+ | 19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±3.9 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 | $90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$104,659±$14kHighest 6% above NH |
| Dublin and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$430,500±$72k 7% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,375±$130Highest 8% below NH |
$1,325±$165 11% below NH |
| Hampton Beach and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$8,165Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
22%±10.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Hampton Beach 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 | — | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.