Compare towns
Hartford vs Plainfield 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
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Hartford | Plainfield | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736 |
2,522Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest 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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | Plainfield School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| 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.