Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Lee vs Plainfield 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
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k 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 | Dunbarton | Lee | Plainfield | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
4,576 |
2,522Lowest |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
45.6±4 5% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$118,271±$17kLowest 19% above NH |
| Lee and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Dunbarton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
— | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
| Plainfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 23% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Weare 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.