Compare towns
Keene vs Plainfield vs Somersworth vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
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 | Keene | Plainfield | Somersworth | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
2,522Lowest |
12,111 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
38.9±6.5Highest 10% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Plainfield and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Plainfield School District | Somersworth School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Somersworth High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 11.4Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.