Compare towns
Dover vs Plaistow vs Newmarket
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%).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
Newmarket has the most expensive homes ($455k median).
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 | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
7,861Lowest |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
| Newmarket 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% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Newmarket 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 |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
| Plaistow and Newmarket 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 |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$455,000±$22kHighest 13% above NH |
| Newmarket and Dover 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±$187 12% above NH |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
| Newmarket and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$8,734Highest 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3Lowest 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% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Newmarket 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 | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.4 |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.