Compare towns
Dover vs Plainfield vs Tuftonboro
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).
Tuftonboro has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Tuftonboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,522Lowest |
2,569 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
51.9±7.5Highest 20% above NH |
| Tuftonboro and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Tuftonboro 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% |
27.8%±6.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Tuftonboro 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
37.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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 4% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$100,574±$16k about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Tuftonboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$462,300±$46kHighest 15% above NH |
| Tuftonboro 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±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,311±$358Lowest 12% below NH |
| Plainfield 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 |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$3,004Lowest 55% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
6.5%±28.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Plainfield 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.3%±8.9Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Plainfield School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.