Compare towns
Dover vs South Hampton vs Plainfield vs Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | South Hampton | Plainfield | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
984Lowest |
2,522 |
7,146 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Plainfield 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 17% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Eliot and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 164% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | South Hampton School District | Plainfield School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.