Compare towns
Berwick vs Dover vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Berwick | Dover | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,998Lowest |
33,364Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6Highest 10% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| Berwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±12.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$39kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,300±$36kLowest about the U.S. average |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | — | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.