Compare towns
Thornton vs Wakefield 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 the most people working from home (29.8%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
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 | Wakefield | Dublin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799 |
27,793Highest |
1,688Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% 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% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dublin and Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dublin and Thornton 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% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thornton and Wakefield 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. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$104,659±$14k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$430,500±$72k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,325±$165 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$8,165Highest 162% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Wakefield 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Thornton School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.