What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dover	Plaistow
People
Population	33,364Highest	7,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH	40.1±3.7Highest 7% below NH
	Plaistow and Dover 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%	19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2%
	Plaistow 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%	17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Plaistow and Dover 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%	34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6%	3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH	$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH
	Plaistow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH	$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average
	Dover and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH	$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH
	Plaistow 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	$7,194Lowest 8% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2%
	Plaistow 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%	4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	78.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 15% below NH	29 minHighest 7% above NH
Work from home	18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8%	13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Dover and Plaistow 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	#66 of 120 in NH
School district	Dover School District	Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town	Dover Senior High School	Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.