Compare towns
Thornton vs Hampton vs Exeter 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 people working from home (29.8%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Dublin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,799 |
16,426Highest |
16,151 |
1,688Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
49.3±8.4 14% above NH |
| Hampton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dublin and Exeter 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton 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% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±3.9 NH: 6% |
| Exeter 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 9% below NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$104,659±$14k 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Dublin 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 |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$430,500±$72k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,325±$165 11% below NH |
| Exeter and Hampton 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 |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,165 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22%±10.8 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Thornton School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.