Compare towns
Dover vs Plainfield vs Sanbornton 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 kids (23.4% under 18).
Sanbornton has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
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 | Plainfield | Sanbornton | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,053 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
41.9±5.4Highest 3% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Sanbornton and Plainfield 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%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton 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% |
21.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Sanbornton 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% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| 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±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton 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 |
$452,300±$30kHighest 12% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Sanbornton and Plainfield 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±$181 12% above NH |
$1,289±$198Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| 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 24% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #42 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Plainfield School District | Winnisquam Regional 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 |
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.