Compare towns
Dover vs Center Harbor vs Plainfield vs Keene
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Center Harbor | Plainfield | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
955Lowest |
2,522 |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 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+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.1% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Plainfield and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$463,800±$74kHighest 15% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Center Harbor and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
— | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Plainfield and Dover 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 |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
25 minHighest 8% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Plainfield School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | — | 12.3Lowest |
| 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.