Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dover vs Worcester
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 oldest population (median age 48.1).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Dover | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
33,364Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Dover and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 54% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.