Compare towns
Dover vs Hartland vs Plainfield vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Hartland has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Hartland | Plainfield | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
3,460 |
2,522Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
55.8±5.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartland 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$86,136±$23kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$348,600±$39kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| 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 14% above U.S. |
— | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,437Lowest 106% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.1%±89.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon 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 | #29 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Hartland School District | Plainfield School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | — | 11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.