Compare towns
Plainfield vs South Berwick 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 highest household income ($123k).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | South Berwick | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
7,670 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
39±2.5Highest about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| South Berwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and South Berwick 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. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| 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 18% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Dover 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Plainfield 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
12.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.