Compare towns
Plainfield vs Lebanon vs Dover
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%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Lebanon | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
14,999 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Highest 10% below NH |
38.9±3.1Highest 10% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Dover 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% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon 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 NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Dover 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 |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Plainfield and Dover 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 |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
| Lebanon 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 |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
23 minHighest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Lebanon School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| 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.