Compare towns
Dover vs Plaistow vs Concord 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 the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
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 | Plaistow | Concord | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364 |
7,861Lowest |
44,375Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
40.7±1.3Highest 6% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Concord and Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Concord 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%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Concord 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% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.3% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 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±$7k 4% below NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Plaistow and Lebanon 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±$32k about the NH average |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| 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±$100 8% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Lebanon and Plaistow 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 |
$7,227 8% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Concord High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
11.4Lowest |
13.0Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.