Compare towns
Dover vs Plainfield vs Keene vs Milford
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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Plainfield | Keene | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,522Lowest |
22,939 |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
38.9±6.5Highest 10% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Plainfield and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Keene 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% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Milford 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±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| 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±$100 8% above NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
| Plainfield and Milford 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 |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Plainfield 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Plainfield School District | Keene School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Keene High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 12.3 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.