Compare towns
Newmarket vs Plainfield vs Dover vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newmarket has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
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 | Newmarket | Plainfield | Dover | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
2,522Lowest |
33,364Highest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Newmarket and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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+ | 49.7% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22kHighest 13% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
| Newmarket and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
| Plainfield and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734Highest 31% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Plainfield 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Plainfield School District | Dover School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.