Compare towns
Dover vs Plainfield vs South Eliot
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%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,522Lowest |
4,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Plainfield 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 17% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Plainfield 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. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.