Compare towns
Plainfield vs Warner vs Dover 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%).
Warner has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Warner | Dover | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
2,959 |
33,364Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
43.7±4Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Warner 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 NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest 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% |
20.4%±3.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Warner 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% |
42.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Warner 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 |
$94,022±$18kLowest 5% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% 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 |
$353,100±$22kLowest 12% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
| Madbury and Plainfield 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 |
$1,219±$123Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above 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 |
$7,650Lowest 15% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.7%±21.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Warner 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% |
8.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.6% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.6%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Dover School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.