Compare towns
Dorset vs Plainfield vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Dorset | Plainfield | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
2,522 |
4,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.5±6.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Manchester and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Manchester and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Manchester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$94,886±$23kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$454,600±$47k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,057±$76Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 140% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,923Lowest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Manchester 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 | #37 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Plainfield School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.