Compare towns

Ludlow 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

Ludlow has the most renters (28.1% rent).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).

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.

MeasureLudlowPlainfieldDover
People
Population
1,990
2,522Highest
1,466Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+60%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52.2±6.2
34% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
53.5±8.3Highest
38% above U.S.
Dover and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.1%±6
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.1%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.5%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Ludlow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ludlow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$54,885±$14k
32% below U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$52,313±$7kLowest
35% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$370,200±$46k
11% above U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$332,900±$55kLowest
about the U.S. average
Plainfield and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,112±$151
21% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$670±$49Lowest
53% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,890
57% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$4,510Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.2%±25.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.1%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Ludlow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
22 minHighest
17% below U.S.
22 minHighest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
21.3%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.2%±11.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover and Ludlow 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 — #19 of 120 in NH —
School district Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 Plainfield School District River Valleys Unified School District #73
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.