Compare towns

Lebanon vs Plainfield vs Wilder 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

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

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.

MeasureLebanonPlainfieldWilderDover
People
Population
14,999
2,522Lowest
3,087
33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±3.1
about the U.S. average
38.9±6.5
about the U.S. average
45.5±8.9Highest
17% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below 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%
11.8%±4.1Lowest
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+
21.4%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
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%
60.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
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%
8.1%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2
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.
$75,143±$9kLowest
7% below U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$385,400±$29k
16% above U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$273,200±$18kLowest
18% below 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
$1,744±$132Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,674±$181
18% above U.S.
$1,142±$451Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,607±$100
14% above 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.
$5,505Lowest
76% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% 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%
39.9%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3Highest
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%
9.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
17 min
37% below U.S.
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
22.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
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.