Compare towns
Dover vs Plymouth vs Plymouth vs Weare
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%).
Plymouth has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Weare has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Plymouth | Plymouth | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
4,969Lowest |
6,601 |
9,170 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Dover and Weare 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% |
63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$89,500±$32k 10% below NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
| Weare 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 |
$294,400±$28k 27% below NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$396,300±$26k about the NH average |
| Dover and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,296±$295 13% below NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
| Dover and Weare 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 |
$6,483 about the NH average |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare 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% |
17% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | Plymouth Regional High School | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.