Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dover vs Chichester vs Sanbornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Chichester has the most affordable homes ($409k median).
Sanbornton has the most expensive homes ($452k 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 | Plainfield | Dover | Chichester | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
33,364Highest |
2,745 |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
43±3.3Highest about the NH average |
41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
| Chichester and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sanbornton 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% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest 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 | $122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$109,297±$13k 10% above NH |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$409,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$452,300±$30kHighest 12% above NH |
| Sanbornton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$2,055±$275Highest 38% above NH |
$1,289±$198Lowest 14% below NH |
| Chichester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 19% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$7,189 8% above NH |
$5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Chichester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
19%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Chichester 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #75 of 120 in NH | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Dover School District | Chichester School District | Winnisquam Regional 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.