Compare towns

Plainfield vs Dover vs Dorset

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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldDoverDorset
People
Population
2,522
33,364Highest
2,092Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±6.5
about the U.S. average
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
45.9±7.5Highest
18% above U.S.
Dorset and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.4%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Dorset 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%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dorset 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
72.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±2.1Lowest
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.
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% above U.S.
$111,250±$40k
38% above U.S.
Plainfield and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$442,400±$47k
33% above U.S.
$436,700±$20kLowest
31% above U.S.
$569,200±$57kHighest
71% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,420±$296Lowest
about the U.S. average
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.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$7,489Lowest
140% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
74.4%±22.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dorset and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
17% below U.S.
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
22 minLowest
18% below U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±8.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
29.3%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #19 of 120 in NH #64 of 120 in NH —
School district Plainfield School District Dover School District Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school in town None in town Dover Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.7
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.