Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dover vs Kensington
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%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k 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 | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
33,364Highest |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
| Kensington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Kensington 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 NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest 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±$13k 24% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
| Kensington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Plainfield 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington 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 | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Dover School District | Kensington School District |
| 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 |
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.