Compare towns
Eliot vs Plainfield vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Eliot | Plainfield | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
2,522Lowest |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #19 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Plainfield School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.