Compare towns
Dover vs Exeter vs Lebanon vs Plainfield
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 youngest population (median age 36.9).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Lebanon | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
16,151 |
14,999 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Lebanon 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon 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±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Plainfield and Exeter 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 |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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 |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Exeter and Lebanon 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lebanon School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Exeter High School | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.1 |
11.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.