Compare towns
Madbury vs Dover vs Hampton Falls vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Madbury | Dover | Hampton Falls | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
33,364Highest |
2,328 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dover School District | Hampton Falls School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.