Compare towns
Dorset vs Plaistow vs Fayston
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Fayston has the oldest population (median age 46.9).
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 | Plaistow | Fayston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
7,861Highest |
1,342Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
46.9±3.5Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Fayston 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% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Fayston 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% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plaistow and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$110,250±$28k 37% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Fayston 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. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$502,400±$82k 51% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,654±$274 17% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
$6,689Lowest 114% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.3%±27.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Fayston 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 | — | #66 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Timberlane Regional School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.