Compare towns
Eliot vs Plainfield vs Hanover vs Dover
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 the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
2,522Lowest |
11,685 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest 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. |
36.9±1.9 5% 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% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Dover 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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% |
52% 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% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% 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±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% 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. |
$8,249 164% 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% |
48.6%±6.3 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%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. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% 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% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | #19 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Plainfield School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| 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.