Compare towns

Concord vs Plainfield vs Pembroke 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 homeowners (87.3%).
Pembroke has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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.

MeasureConcordPlainfieldPembrokeDover
People
Population
44,375Highest
2,522Lowest
7,438
33,364
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%
NH: +4.6%
+4%
NH: +4.6%
+1.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+9.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
40.7±1.3
6% below NH
38.9±6.5
10% below NH
41.9±3.3Highest
3% below NH
36.9±1.9Lowest
15% below NH
Pembroke and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±1.3
NH: 18.2%
23.4%±5.8
NH: 18.2%
24%±4.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
16.9%±1.8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Pembroke and Plainfield 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%±4.5Highest
NH: 20.1%
16.4%±3.2Lowest
NH: 20.1%
16.8%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
Plainfield and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.3%
NH: 40.6%
46.7%
NH: 40.6%
32.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
52%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6%±0.8
NH: 6%
4.8%±2.3
NH: 6%
3.5%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
6.2%±1.2Highest
NH: 6%
Dover and Concord 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
$89,519±$22k
10% below NH
$94,829±$7k
4% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$350,900±$13kLowest
13% below NH
$442,400±$47kHighest
10% above NH
$371,500±$20k
8% below NH
$436,700±$20k
8% above NH
Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,441±$43
3% below NH
$1,674±$181Highest
12% above NH
$1,218±$354Lowest
18% below NH
$1,607±$100
8% above NH
Plainfield and Dover 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
$7,589
14% above NH
$8,249Highest
24% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±5.2
NH: 48.2%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
NH: 48.2%
48.4%±21.8
NH: 48.2%
48.6%±6.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
Dover and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%
NH: 7.2%
5.2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
15%Highest
NH: 7.2%
8.3%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.8%
NH: 72.8%
87.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
67.4%
NH: 72.8%
52.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
10 yrs older than NH
1977Highest
2 yrs older than NH
1969Lowest
10 yrs older than 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
8% below NH
23 min
15% below NH
Work from home
14.1%±1.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
18.1%±8.5
NH: 16.8%
17%±4.8
NH: 16.8%
18.6%±2.5Highest
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 #89 of 120 in NH #19 of 120 in NH #85 of 120 in NH #64 of 120 in NH
School district Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District Plainfield School District Pembroke School District Dover School District
High school in town Concord High School None in town Pembroke Academy Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.0
—
13.1Highest
12.7Lowest
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.