Compare towns
Concord vs Plainfield vs Exeter vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Concord | Plainfield | Exeter | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
2,522Lowest |
16,151 |
33,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Plainfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #89 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Plainfield School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | None in town | Exeter High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.