Compare towns

Lebanon vs Plainfield vs Dover vs Wilder

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).

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.

MeasureLebanonPlainfieldDoverWilder
People
Population
14,999
2,522Lowest
33,364Highest
3,087
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±3.1
about the U.S. average
38.9±6.5
about the U.S. average
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
45.5±8.9Highest
17% above U.S.
Wilder and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.6%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±4.1Lowest
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+
21.4%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wilder and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
60.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
8.1%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wilder and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,147±$10k
22% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$75,143±$9kLowest
7% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$385,400±$29k
16% above U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
$273,200±$18kLowest
18% below 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
$1,744±$132Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,674±$181
18% above U.S.
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,142±$451Lowest
19% below U.S.
Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,149
161% above U.S.
$7,904
153% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$5,505Lowest
76% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.9%±7.2
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.9%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Dover and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
17 min
37% below U.S.
Work from home
22.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lebanon and Dover 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 #29 of 120 in NH #19 of 120 in NH #64 of 120 in NH —
School district Lebanon School District Plainfield School District Dover School District —
High school in town Lebanon High School None in town Dover Senior High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7Lowest
—
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.