Compare towns
Lebanon vs Weare vs Plainfield 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
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Weare has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Lebanon | Weare | Plainfield | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
9,170 |
2,522Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Weare and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Dover 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 about the NH average |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Plainfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$396,300±$26k about the NH average |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above 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 | $1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,541±$214Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| 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 22% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #29 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Plainfield School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
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.