Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dover vs Wolfeboro vs Madbury
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 homeowners (87.3%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Wolfeboro | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
33,364Highest |
6,571 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury 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 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 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±$7k 4% below NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Plainfield 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±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| 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 19% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Dover School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.