Compare towns
Dover vs Plainfield vs Hanover vs Lebanon
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%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plainfield | Hanover | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,522Lowest |
8,479 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
38.9±6.5Highest 10% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
38.9±3.1Highest 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Hanover and Plainfield 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 |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 15% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
19 min 29% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Lebanon 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Plainfield School District | — | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | 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 |
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.