Compare towns
Madbury vs Norwich 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
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Norwich | Plainfield | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
3,640 |
2,522 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Norwich 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 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Dover 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,904Lowest 153% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District | Plainfield School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.7 |
| 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.