Compare towns
Dorchester vs Plainfield 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
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Dorchester | Plainfield | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
2,522 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 | — | $122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above 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 | — | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 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 | $3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| 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.