Compare towns
Plainfield vs Durham vs Dover 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Sanbornton has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Dover | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
15,080 |
33,364Highest |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
41.9±5.4Highest 3% below NH |
| Sanbornton 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
| Durham 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
| Durham and Sanbornton 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 |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,289±$198Lowest 14% below 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Dover School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
12.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.