Compare towns
Dover vs Grantham vs Kensington 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 most renters (47.3% rent).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
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 | Grantham | Kensington | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
3,465 |
2,009Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Grantham and Kensington 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% |
19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Grantham 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%±6.9 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Kensington 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% |
59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Grantham 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 |
$106,403±$54k 7% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
— | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Kensington and Plainfield 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 |
$7,605Lowest 14% above NH |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
— | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Plainfield 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% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
1.9% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
23 min 16% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington 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 | #6 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Grantham School District | Kensington School District | Plainfield 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.