Compare towns
Dover vs Hillsborough vs Plaistow
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%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Plaistow has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Hillsborough | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
5,980Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
40.9±4.6Highest 6% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Hillsborough and Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Hillsborough 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% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Dover 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% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
| Plaistow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Dover and Plaistow 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 |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% 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 | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough 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% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Hillsborough 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
9.5Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.