Compare towns
Dover vs Plaistow vs Plymouth
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%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 22.8).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
7,861 |
4,969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
40.1±3.7Highest 7% below NH |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% 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%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest 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% |
9.4%±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% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$89,500±$32kLowest 10% below 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±$32k about the NH average |
$294,400±$28kLowest 27% 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±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,296±$295Lowest 13% below 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 |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,483Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Lowest 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% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±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 | #47 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 | 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.