Compare towns
Dover vs Ludlow vs Plainfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Ludlow has the most renters (28.1% rent).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Ludlow | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
1,990 |
2,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2 34% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dover and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ludlow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$54,885±$14k 32% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kLowest about the U.S. average |
$370,200±$46k 11% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,112±$151 21% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,890 57% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ludlow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Ludlow 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 | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.