Compare towns

Plainfield vs Westminster 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).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldWestminsterDover
People
Population
2,522
2,999Highest
1,466Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+60%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
53.5±3.7Highest
38% above U.S.
53.5±8.3Highest
38% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Westminster 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%
27.6%±6.8
U.S.: 17.2%
29.5%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dover and Westminster 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%
46.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Westminster 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.
$71,491±$4k
11% below U.S.
$52,313±$7kLowest
35% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$273,800±$35kLowest
18% below U.S.
$332,900±$55k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$916±$126
35% below U.S.
$670±$49Lowest
53% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$4,063Lowest
30% above U.S.
$4,510
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.1%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Westminster and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
24 minHighest
10% below U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±8.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.2%±11.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Westminster 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 #53 of 70 in VT —
School district Plainfield School District Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District River Valleys Unified School District #73
High school in town None in town Bellows Falls Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.6
—
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.