Compare towns
Plainfield vs Bennington vs Dover vs North Hartland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
North Hartland has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | Plainfield | Bennington | Dover | North Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
1,588 |
33,364Highest |
322Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
59.2±4.6Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±12.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hartland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$51,161±$50kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$420,000±$354k 26% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,292±$150Lowest 9% below 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 | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$5,944Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
— |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and North Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
28.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
54% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Dover School District | — |
| High school 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.