Compare towns
Deerfield vs Dover vs Plymouth vs Northwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Northwood has the oldest housing (typical home built 1970).
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 | Deerfield | Dover | Plymouth | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
33,364Highest |
6,601 |
4,688Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
| Deerfield and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Deerfield and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Northwood and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10kHighest 33% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$129,375±$23k 31% above NH |
| Deerfield and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,000±$33k 5% above NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$363,000±$13k 10% below NH |
| Dover and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318 7% above NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,201±$372 19% below NH |
| Dover and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,369 11% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield and Northwood 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Dover School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
12.8Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| 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.