Compare towns
Dover vs Hampstead vs Plaistow vs Weare
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%).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Weare has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Hampstead | Plaistow | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
9,102 |
7,861Lowest |
9,170 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
| Weare and Hampstead 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% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Hampstead 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 |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
| Weare and Hampstead 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 |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
| Plaistow 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 |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Plaistow 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% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Hampstead School District | Timberlane Regional School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.