Compare towns
Dover vs Chichester vs Plainfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Chichester has the oldest population (median age 43).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Dover | Chichester | Plainfield | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,745 |
2,522Lowest |
2,626 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
43±3.3Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
| Chichester and Plainfield 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% |
20.3%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Chichester 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% |
17.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest 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 | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$109,297±$13k 10% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
| Plainfield and Chichester 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 |
$409,300±$26k about the NH average |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$2,055±$275Highest 38% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,809±$394 21% above NH |
| Chichester 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 |
$7,189 8% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Chichester 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% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
19%±8 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford and Chichester 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 | #75 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Chichester School District | Plainfield School District | Rollinsford School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.