Compare towns
Ashland vs Dover vs Plainfield vs Plymouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Ashland | Dover | Plainfield | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
33,364Highest |
2,522 |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
| Ashland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,108±$255 26% below NH |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 4% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Plainfield 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Dover School District | Plainfield School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.