Compare towns
Dover vs Auburn vs Plaistow vs Rollinsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Rollinsford has the most affordable homes ($398k median).
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 | Dover | Auburn | Plaistow | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
6,119 |
7,861 |
2,626Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
| Auburn and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rollinsford and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,809±$394 21% above NH |
| Auburn and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Rollinsford 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Auburn School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Rollinsford School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.