Compare towns
Auburn vs Dover vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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 | Auburn | Dover | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119Lowest |
33,364Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Auburn and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Auburn and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 21% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Dover 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Dover School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.