Compare towns
Dover vs Durham vs Plainfield vs Concord
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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Plainfield | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364 |
15,080 |
2,522Lowest |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
40.7±1.3Highest 6% below NH |
| Concord and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Concord 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Concord 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
| Durham and Plainfield 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
| Durham 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 |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,441±$43 3% 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 | $8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Dover 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
23 minHighest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Dover 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
12.3Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.