Compare towns
Plainfield vs Middlesex vs Dover
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 most expensive homes ($442k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Middlesex | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Highest |
1,943 |
1,466Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Dover and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$332,900±$55kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.