Compare towns
Plainfield vs White River Junction vs Dover vs Sanbornton
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 kids (23.4% under 18).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Dover has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Sanbornton has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
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 | White River Junction | Dover | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
3,364 |
33,364Highest |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
41.9±5.4Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sanbornton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.4 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. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$113,750±$41k 41% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$452,300±$30kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton 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 18% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,289±$198 9% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,731 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and White River Junction 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±6.1 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Dover School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school 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 |
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.